"No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother’s love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star."
-Edwin Hubbell Chapin

* * * * * * * *

Dear Mom,

You were there for me since day one. Before I even had a breath of air. I was your number one priority from the very beginning (along with my siblings when they were born). I hope that one day when I have kids of my own (don't worry that is going to be a long, long time from now) that I can at least be half as good a parent as you because then my kids would be very blessed.

I just want to let you know that I love you and that I am very thankful for you. Even though I don't always show my love or appreciation as much as I should. You are the most important woman in my life, my hero, and my role model. I have looked up to you since I was little, still do, and always will.

You sacrificed a lot in life for me. Time, money, and energy. I am very grateful for that. I am grateful for all the hugs, kisses, and comforting words in my times of fear and sorrow.

Thank you for the many reminders of how much you love and care for me. Thank you for your words of encouragement to help me strive for better and attain my goals in life. Everything I have right now, I have because of you. Thank you for all the laughs and good times we shared that I will cherish forever. Thank you for being awesome and hilarious. We have many amazing memories. You are my best friend and my favorite person in the world to chill with. You are my #1. I miss you a lot while I am here in college and you are always in my thoughts. Thank you for always looking out for me and for giving the best advice. You are always looking out for my best interests. Your words of wisdom are what help me get through each day with good decisions.

I know it is very hard for you that I am away at college and thank you for always being considerate towards me. Thank you for letting me have an opinion and a say in things. Knowing that you care about my opinion is very uplifting. Thank you for making me feel special and going out of your way to make me feel happy and comfortable. Thank you for helping me in everything I do and for helping shape me into a caring person with good morals and a kind heart. I am very blessed to have you in my life and to be able to say that you are the woman who raised me.

I want to let you know that you can trust me. I may still be very young and your baby (and you may not want to accept that I am becoming an adult now) but I want to let you know that you have raised me well. You have given me what I need to be able to take care of myself every once in awhile in certain situations and to make responsible decisions. I still need your guidance, of course, but I want to let you know that you can treat yourself to a little break from constantly worrying about me. You have given me the resources I need to make good, healthy decisions and have given me the ability to think clearly and not mess up as much as I might have in the past. You have taught me well.

I also want to apologize and say I'm sorry. I know these two words won't make up for all the times I've messed up or nearly given you a heart attack, but I feel it's the least I could do and I would like to acknowledge how forgiving you are.

I'm sorry for all the times I've driven you nuts. I know I am not always the easiest person to deal with at times and that I can be very dramatic on occasion. And yes, I can be very obnoxious every once in awhile. Thanks for still putting up with me, by the way. I am also sorry for causing you to worry and giving you grief. Ever. And I'm definitely sorry for all the times I've made you angry; when I argued and thought I knew everything. I'm sorry for ever breaking your heart or making you sad or upset. You definitely did not deserve any of that and I want to thank you for forgiving me and loving me despite all my flaws.

I would be completely lost without you.

You are my best friend and my hero.

Thanks, Mom. For everything.

I love you.

With lots of love,

Your Thankful Child

* * * * * * * * *

A special shout out to all moms: the superheroes of the world who are occasionally underappreciated. What would we do without you?

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only 4 pieces of pie for 5 people, announces she never did care for pie."
-Tenneva Jordan