Dear Mom,

Yes, I am a sophomore in college. And yes, I still need you. Every. single. day. I didn't need you more as a freshman in college, in fact, I think I need you now more than ever. I always need you more as the days go by. Each day I learn to value the things you have taught me, as well as all things you have done for me. I won't ever be able to give you half of what you have given me. It doesn't matter if I am a mom one day with kids of my own, I will still need you then.

I will need you when I don't know how to actually do my laundry (the right way). I will need you when I need to know how to cook rice because you make it just right. I will need you when I need a hug. But, I mean a real hug. The kind of hug only you give. I will need you when I am sad, because you know just what to say. I will need you when I am happy, because who else would I want to tell all my accomplishments to. I needed you 20 years ago (obviously), and I need you today. I will need you tomorrow, and for the rest of my life.

You are the greatest person I know. There is no one on this Earth quite like you, from your sense of humor to the way you love others. You make me proud to call you my mom. For all that you have done for me, I will never know how to say thank you enough. You made me who I am, a courageous woman who knows that life's greatest moments don't have to be accompanied by a man or any other person for that matter. You have taught me that I am enough.

You are beautiful, inside and out. Your heart beats for others. You constantly want to do something for someone else. I love how you constantly want to feed everyone in your path (also your food is the best so we're all lucky for this). You really are the coolest mom ever. You encourage me to dream big, and to follow my heart all while having a good head on my shoulders. You keep me grounded, because you are my anchor.

You are my motivation and drive. The reason I get up for school every single day. I want to make you proud and give back to you. I want to bring you out of life's stresses, and I want to take away all your problems. You deserve more than I can afford (considering I am a very broke college student) but one day my hard work will let you stop working. Even though, being the person you are, you don't quit. But, this one time, I hope you will. I hope you will be able to relax by the porch of the house I want to buy for you, and look out at the stars. The same ones you allowed me to see by bringing me into this world (whoop whoop).

Even when things got hard, you persevered. Your story is one that people read about in books. You are my hero. Growing up in a house with one parent, could have gone one way or the other. But, I was lucky, because I had you. When everyone else ran, you stayed. You worked, you provided, you overcame. You are my everything.

You are my greatest best friend. I can't imagine laughing for hours with anyone else, about the most ridiculous things. Our inside jokes are timeless. I can't imagine crying for hours with anyone else, when we feel like life has defeated us. But, I can't imagine anyone else making me feel better by just reminding me that we have God. That life's problems, are always solvable.

I think back to the stressful nights of High School where I would crawl into your bed and sob because of how overwhelmed I was, and you'd always know just what to say. It would always go somewhere along the lines of, "Breathe, relax. Go to bed, don't worry about things so much, everything is going to be okay" and just like that I felt like the whole world stopped spinning a thousand miles an hour.

I am grateful for how you taught me to love Jesus. The way I grew up in a home where He was all we needed when things got tough. Where his presence was always felt, and known. Because, today I am a better Christian as a result of this. I am complete because I know God, because you taught me how to walk alongside Him.

I know that life is hard. I know that people doubt you, but the thing is they don't know you. The woman who has raised three kids alone. The woman who has put food on the table, paid the bills, and managed to raise us with intelligence, hard-work, and empathy. Life is not easy that is for sure, but had I had anyone else be my mom other than you, I don't know how I would make it. You are my constant reminder, that people are good and God is even better.

In college, the important things get lost in the clutter and noise of everyday life. I am sorry that I don't call you enough. I am sorry that I don't remind you of how much I need you everyday. But, the truth is, I think of you constantly. Whether it's when I just need my mom or I just need my best friend. I feel like it's easy for you to feel forgotten, but just know that is never the case. I tell my friends about how cool you are. I tell God about how lucky I am (even though He already knows). I tell myself how much I miss you.

I love you mom. Your past, your present, and your future. You make me proud, and I want to scream out to the world that you are my mom. God was really looking out for me when he gave me you (or should I say when He gave you, me). You are my sun, and my moon and everything in between. Thank you for pushing against life's currents.

P.S. I would have written this in Spanish for you, but I never quite understood how to use accents (sorry).

Love,

A girl who lives for her mom.