"And mothers are their daughters' role model, their biological and emotional road map, the arbiter of all their relationships." -Victoria Secunda

There comes a time in every child's life when they wake up and realize that it's time to grow up, time to be an adult. I don't know about other people, but in that moment ... I realized how far I had come in the past year, and I also realized who deserved the credit for teaching me the importance of independence.

Momma,

There was a time when I ignored everything you said, considered you my enemy, thought you were trying to ruin my life ... But as I grew older, I realized that you were new at this, too. You were young when I was born. Instead of treating me as a mistake or passing me off on other people like so many young mothers do ... You raised me. You watched me grow up, but you were still growing up, too. Now I am the age that you were when I made an appearance into this world, and that just makes me respect you even more. I changed your whole life, but you've always told me that Sawyer and I are the best things that ever happened to you. I don't give you enough credit. I don't thank you nearly as much as I should. So here it goes ...

Thank you, Mom, for kissing my booboos, for holding my hand through life, for pushing me to do my best, for being my saving grace during my first heart break, for teaching me right from wrong, for being my biggest fan, for listening to all of my school gossip, for painting my toes or straightening my hair when I was too lazy to do it myself, and for being my best friend. But most of all, thank you for being my parent- even though I wasn't always the best daughter. You are the best mom Sawyer and I could ever ask for, I cannot thank God enough for that. We've both made mistakes during our lives, but I'm glad I have you there to tell me everything will be alright even when I feel as if the world is crashing down. I pray that one day my daughter looks at me the way I look at you. You are the strongest woman I know, and I would not be the woman I am today without the impact you had on my life. I love you the most, best, greatest, and forever.

-Your Angelface