To my over-involved mom,

You are the one that makes the world go 'round. Growing up, you taught me so much, most of which I never thought to thank you for. A lot of the things you taught me I didn’t even consider to be lessons learned, but after 19 years of learning and growing I have come to realize that a lot of what I am thankful for comes from you, and your constant over-involvement in my life. So here’s a thank you that is long overdue.

Thank you for being ever present.

From homework, to sports practice, and everything in between, you were always there for me. You volunteered at the school, you went with my class on field trips, you came to every game, and you never missed a performance. Most of the time you were there even when I didn’t want you to be. Growing up, I hated how involved you were and wished you would stop buzzing around me like an annoying gnat. You somehow got my friends to like you, my teachers to like you, and my coaches to like you. Everybody liked you. It drove me insane. Now I am able to realize that this was all in my favor. Having the leaders in my life like you benefited me in so many different ways and ultimately boosted my self confidence. Today, I cannot imagine my friends not liking you more than me. I also can’t imagine looking out into the audience, or up into the bleachers at a game, and not seeing you there to cheer me on. Your presence showed your support, and your support means the world to me, and I have not told you that enough.

Thank you for knowing everything.

When I was younger, I longed for space and freedom to do what I pleased without being bombarded with a million questions about where I was eating dinner and who was going to be there. Because you volunteered and were ever present in all that I did it seemed like you knew everything. When you worked in the school store you learned all the gossip for the week. This made me crazy. It seemed like you learned the drama before I did, and hearing it secondhand was never good enough. You also had friends everywhere I would go and it appeared you knew everyone. You would have known if I sneezed at the mall before I even got home. You had eyes everywhere. I knew no matter what I did you would find out, and as annoying as this was, today I can recognize how grateful I am for this being the case. Knowing that you had eyes everywhere, watching me and expecting me to do my best, didn’t make me feel special, but taught me that all of my actions have consequences. Someone is always watching, even when I think no one can see. I must always look and act my best, because everything seems to make its way back to you.

Thank you for pestering me about my grades.

I cursed the day parents were given a login to see their child’s grades online. This was a game changer, not just in the realm of being a super involved parent, but also in our relationship. This new accessory gave you access to a piece of my life that had once only been mine. In the past I was in charge of my grades and I was the only one that could affect them. But as soon as you gained access you pestered me to study and do to my homework 24/7. My school life became a bigger part of your life. I knew you wanted me to succeed, but I wished you could want that for me without all the annoyances that came along side it. From you constantly pushing me and fighting with me to succeed in school I learned that nothing less than my best is acceptable. You taught me to give 110 percent, and nothing else. I learned what it felt like to truly fail from laziness, and what it felt like to succeed from trying. Thank you for showing me the importance of hard work. It means that one day I will land my dream job and know that you played a huge role in that.

Thank you for teaching me to love.

As I grew up, you taught me so much, but the biggest lesson you taught me I learned after I went off to college and didn’t see you everyday. You taught me that loving others is the best thing you can do. Looking back on all the afternoons you worked the school store, or the times we spent baking for my class party, I now recognize that you did it all out of love. You spent countless hours yelling at me over homework because you love me and you have always wanted the best for me. You took time out of your day to bake cookies with me because you love me, not because you had all the time in the world. Matter of fact you probably had a million other things to do rather than watch me cut shapes out of cookie dough. I took all of that for granted when I was younger, but as I have grown up I could not be more thankful. You showed me that loving on others and devoting your time to those that mean the most to you is what truly matters, and it will carry you far in life.

My life would be a lot different if I did not have you so involved in my life when I was younger. Having you there, even when that was the last thing I wanted, actually meant a lot to me. You constantly being there let me know that I could come to you with anything (even if I never chose to). Because you cared enough to invest your time in me, I learned I could truly invest my trust in you. Moms are like super heroes, and you proved that to me by constantly taking the world by storm. I learned to be patient; I learned to be headstrong, but most of all I learned to be happy. Growing up without a mom who cares as much as you do would have drastically altered my life, and I would not be the same person I am today.

So, to you and all the other moms that make life a joyful adventure, thank you. Thank you for investing in me, and loving me endlessly.

Sincerely,

Your ever-grateful child