Throughout her life, my mother has sacrificed so much for her family. Not only did she bear me and my two other siblings, but she also works hard everyday, breaking her back at a physically demanding job to make sure that myself and my siblings have the type of life that she wants us to have. My mother has sacrificed her sleep, the last sip of her water, and so much more to make sure that we all are taken care of, in the name of love.

So, on this Mother’s Day weekend, because my mother insisted that she wants hand-made presents instead of store-bought, I wanted to take the time to thank the amazing woman who is my mother and recognize all of the amazing things that she does for me through my chosen craft of the written word.

Dear Mom,

Although the dishes may not be done on time and the bathroom is always a mess, please know that my laziness has no reflection on the gratitude that I have towards you.

Since I was little, you have always been there for me, encouraging me, teaching me, and making sure that I always knew right from wrong. You have been my biggest motivation. With everything that I do, I keep you in mind, constantly asking myself, “Is this what my mother would want me to do?” Those words have guided me throughout my life like a light, always showing me the path to choose.

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have the sense of dedication that drives me to victory today. You have always encouraged me to do my best, to never settle, and to never back down. If I fell, you would tend to me, but only for a little while before patching me up and making me try again. I thank you for these skills, as they drive me to be the professional who I want to be and the Journalist who I am today.

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have the love that I do for my body. You have always told me that my body is my body and that I should love it for what it is. You set examples for me at a young age with the love that you showed to your body, never dissing it or others for their sizes. You taught me that loving myself and my size is something that I should strive for, instead of tearing myself down. You never told me to diet and you never encouraged me to seek a slimmer figure because it was popular. You taught me how to love and take pride in my body, so thank you for being a great role-model.

If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have my horribly sarcastic nature. Although you were never openly sarcastic towards me during my childhood (that I know of), I somehow inherited your sense of snark. I also received your trademark sass, which sometimes doesn’t sit well with others, but I don’t care. I thank you for that and for all of the times that we’ve spent mutually judging someone's outfit or hairstyle in public together without saying a word. (Also, thank you for giving me self-reassurance. It comes in handy when people don’t like my sass.)

Finally, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be the person who I am and I wouldn't have the views that I have today. Although we may not see eye-to-eye on a lot of political issues because of our generational gap, you still taught me to seek my own opinions and to do my own research instead of relying on others to formulate and provide facts for me. You never forced me to believe in anything that you believed in. Instead, you let me find my own path and discover what my ideals are on my own. Thanks to this freedom, I never felt stuck or smothered. I never did anything wild because I didn’t feel the need to rebel. I became my own person in my own right and I thank you for that.

So, dear mother, thank you for being an inspiration, a leader, a confidant, and, most of all, a mother. There are so many other things that I’d like to thank you for, but that will have to wait for another day.

Have a happy Mother’s Day.

Love,

The Weird Child