It’s inevitable. We take for granted the people who do the most for us, and in most cases, this person is our mom. So Mom, consider this a thank you for all the times I forgot to say it before.

1. Picking up all the things I forgot to put away.
I’m sorry my mug never made its way to the sink and that my clothes take over more than half of my room instead of the closet.

2. Doing my laundry.
I will never forget that first week of freshman year, when every underclassman called their mom in a panic as they stared dumbfounded at the washing machine.

3. Making home-cooked meals.
I never knew the true value of my mom’s cooking until dining hall food is all I had left.

5. Always buying the new toy.
I definitely did not need another Polly Pocket, Bratz doll or Barbie, but you still bought them for me anyways.

6. Dealing with my clumsiness.
I really did not mean to spill chocolate milk all over your filing cabinet, I swear.

7. Breaking up fights with my sibling(s).
Despite the fact she did start it first.

8. Never missing a big event.
Whether it be a dance recital, school play, or graduation, you were always there being my number one supporter or biggest fan.

9. Letting me sleep in your bed.
For some reasons, the dark seemed less scary with you sleeping next to me.

10. Paying for every extracurricular I wanted to try.
… even though I quit 99 percent of them.

11. Teaching me manners.
I don’t think it’s possible for me to not treat anyone in my life with respect after your extraordinary example.

12. Being my best friend.
Thank you for listening to my late-night breakdowns about how much homework I still had to do and being there when no one else was.