To my mother,

Mother’s Day has finally arrived, and if I could give you the world, I would. You gave me life, and you have been my rock since I carried a teddy bear and wore pigtails. At twenty years old, I recognize now more than ever how fortunate I am to have a woman like you in my life to give me unconditional love and guidance. The following reasons do not fully do it justice, however, I want you to have an idea as to just how much you truly mean to me.

1. You influence me to be resilient.

Regardless of the hardships we have faced and the challenges we have taken on together, your strong and resilient character has motivated me to keep going no matter how troublesome a situation may seem. There have been plenty of times when life seemed exceedingly stressful and resistant… and even in those moments when you want to throw your hands in the air and give up, you keep going. You inspire me to continue moving forward, and with that, I am more courageous and brave.

2. You are authentic.

No matter how often outside forces will try to shape who we are and tell us who we should be, you always remain true to yourself and do so unapologetically. You do not pressure me to be someone who I am not, and you inspire me to embrace my genuine self and imperfections. I believe that authenticity is one of the most admirable qualities a person can have, and I am thankful that you set such an example for me.

3. I see myself in you.

As time passes and we both grow older, we learn more about each other and who we want to be. That being said, I recognize how I am like you more and more each day. Yes, we may disagree and bump heads from time to time (as mothers and daughters will inevitably do) however, I realize how we are more similar than different in subtle yet recognizable ways. It is small things such as this that make me appreciate your presence in my life and how you are more than just a mother to me, but a dear, best friend.

4. You are supportive.

When I am having a difficult time or am dealing with an unideal situation that calls for extra support, you are always a source that I can lean and rely on. I can always count on you to lift me when I am especially low, and to point me in the right direction when I am in need of help (which is more often than I would like to admit). Likewise, my goals and aspirations always have your encouragement, no matter how big of far-fetched they may seem. You motivate to aim high and follow my heart, and I would not be as ambitious of a person without you.

5. You are always there.

Despite the miles between us, I always am confident that you will be there for me when I need you most. You are consistently interested in how things are going in my life away from home and if I am doing well, and such a constant stream of concern makes me feel secure and loved. Small, simple things such as a daily “Good morning!” and “How are you?” go much further than you may realize in that I know you are sincerely present and engaged in my life.

6. We are stronger together.

When we are faced with a struggle individually or as a family, and when rocky times and chaos unavoidably follow… our alliance and bond never weakens. For each and every event we have experienced together, for better or for worse, we have carried on and made it through stronger and wiser than we were before. In other words, as my mother, you are my right hand (as am I your witty, left-handed daughter).

7. You are selfless.

I have always known you to be a person who puts others before yourself. You will do anything to protect your children and all those who you love, and will go out of your way to try and improve any negative situations that come their way. At the same time, you know your limits as to how much you can handle, and you are wise in that you know when you need to step back and do more for yourself and your self-care. This is a wonderful balance.

8. You are trusting.

As I have faith in you, you have faith in me. I have a tremendous amount of trust in you to be honest and dependable, and it is comforting to know that you can rely on me to keep my word for all reasons. You are hopeful that your children will be succeed in all endeavors, yet you also allow us to make our own mistakes and know that things will work out as they should.

9. You make me want to do great things.

Because of your open-minded nature and your encouraging spirit, you inspire me to go above and beyond in order to live my life to the fullest. I strive for a lifestyle that is joyful, adventurous, and wholesome, and I am overwhelmingly thankful that I have a mother like you to experience such a future with. That being said, I am eager to see where our lives take us from here.

10. You are simply an amazing woman.

You are a freethinker, a giver, an inspirer, a protector, and a fighter. You are bold, mindful, warm hearted, worthy of love, and certainly valued. Words honestly cannot describe the degree to which you are an extraordinary person, however, I would just like you to know how much you are appreciated as a person, a friend, a daughter, and a mother. I love you!