Dear Mom,

Can you please feed me?

I’m really hungry. I know I can’t talk, but when I cry it’s because I’m hungry. One day I’ll be able to talk and you’ll get annoyed with how much I ask for.

Can you please help me tie my shoes?

I swear I’ve been practicing, but I still can’t figure it out. Sally is bullying me because she can tie her own shoes, but Mrs. Peterson has to help me.

Can you please hold my hand?

I'm scared.

Can you please pack me a cold lunch?

I’m getting sick of hot lunches when all my friends’ moms pack them awesome lunches.

Can you please throw me a themed birthday party?

I want to be a mermaid for the day.

Can you please bring me to field hockey tryouts Mom?

Please, it will cost you money and your Saturday mornings, but I promise I’ll make you proud.

Can you please buy me these $80 cleats?

I swear they’ll make me run faster.

Can you please help me with my homework?

My teacher explains it, but sometimes I don’t pay attention and would rather you teach this to me anyways.

Can you please bring me to get a prom dress?

I’m only a freshman and I got asked to Junior Prom! Please don’t embarrass me.

Can you please sign me up for drivers-ed?

I know you think I’m too young, but I swear I’ll always be a defensive driver. Even when my friends are being stupid and risking their lives by drinking and driving. I’m not too young to drive Mom, the legal age is 15 to get a permit. Please Mom!?

Can you please tell me that it will all be okay?

One day I’ll look back and thank you for this advice.

Can you please let me go out with my friends tonight?

I will be smart, but I will experiment.

Can you please help me apply to college, Mom?

These are going to be the best four years of my life, I can’t wait to live on my own!

Can you please help me decorate my graduation cap?

I want it to be simple, but bold.

Can you please help me pick out my dorm decorations?

I want it to feel like home, but I want to seem mature.

Mom, can you please make sure my room is clean?

I’m coming home for break!

Mom, there are so many things I ask if you can do for me, finally I have the chance to ask you if you can for yourself.

Can you please pause and look at the amazing life you’ve created for your two beautiful daughters?

Look at me, I’m graduating college in a year and my little sister is graduating high school and going off to college in a year. Look at the smile created on my face once I see your smile after I’ve been gone for a semester.

Can you pause and see that everything you’ve done has shaped me to be an amazing woman?

Can you please look at yourself in the mirror and love yourself?

Really, look into your own eyes and be proud of yourself despite anything you might regret or wish was different. Be happy with who you are, because I wouldn’t want you to be any different. Please acknowledge how much work you put into my life and how much success you have even though I may have asked for too much.

Can you please start living for you?

You’ve done your job and although I’m not out of the house yet, I am fully bloomed, for now. I’m not implying that I don’t need you because there will never be a time that I don’t, but you need you more than I need you. Start doing things that you couldn't do because I was crying for your attention every second of the day. Again, not implying that you didn’t love it, but I’m implying that I know there were things you missed out on. Start thriving because you’re amazing.

Finally, can you please help me repeat all of the above when I have children of my own?

I want to be just like you, I want my kids to grow up with a mother like you—so much enthusiasm even when I didn’t get the goal and so much worry when you sent me off to college even when you knew I was going to be fine.

Can you please?