This past Sunday was Mother’s Day and my newsfeed on Facebook and Instagram was full of throwback pictures and current pictures of people with their mothers accompanied by loving posts. And that’s what I expected; it's Mother’s Day and 2016 after all — so everything is a post online. But what we need to remember is we should be telling other moms, dads and siblings (and every other family member and friend) that we love them genuinely in person too. I know I did. And I’m sure the majority of the people who made those posts did it in person too; it’s just something we need to acknowledge and take a little more seriously. Sharing a picture that says "Share if you love your mom" doesn’t really do a lot unless your mom sees it. So after you share that picture, make sure you text your mom or even (gasp!) call her and let her know how much you care.

This might sound a little hypocritical, because now I am going to conclude this article with how much I love and appreciate my mom. However, I felt that it was important to open with that sentiment to remind people that it is OK to take a step out of this technologically controlled world. Give someone a hug today — it's just as good, if not even more meaningful, than that post on social media.

Mom,

Thank you for taking me to the library literally days after I was born. You obviously instilled the love I have for reading, words and knowledge. Thank you for taking trips to the library with me years later. Those hours and hours of us reading countless books in the children's section meant a lot to me.

Thank you for staying home with me when my sister and I were little. I didn’t understand the luxury that I had by you staying home. I know you go to work every day and work hard now (that I thank you for as well), but I am so glad that you were able to stay home with us every day and be our mother literally 24/7. A lot of people don’t realize the impact mothers have when they actually get to stay at home. I wouldn’t trade those years with you playing Monopoly Jr. and visiting granny on Tuesdays for literally anything. We became more than mother and daughter during those years, we became best friends. That’s why I cried for the first six months of school because I was missing my best friend!

Thank you for driving me to my first date. I was so nervous and so in love with the boy. In that car ride before and after the date, you made me feel comfortable about the adventure I was about to have with that boy and you calmed me down when I was getting too nervous on the way there. Also, thank you for being there when that boy broke my heart. Because that journey was a lot rougher than the car ride to the first date. Thank you for being there when I was a mess and for letting me rebuild myself, and helping me when I needed you too.

Thank you for being there for every award ceremony, every Founder’s Day for my sorority, and for everything in between. Thank you for everything that you will do in the future, because I’m only 21 and I know that there is a lot more ahead for both of us. No article, no Facebook post, no thank you and no words can ever fully describe how thankful I am for everything you have done and how grateful I am that you are who you are. I am so blessed that I was able to be your daughter.

I know you were missing your mom this Sunday and I know (I don’t actually know but I can only guess and it sounds terrible) it doesn’t get any easier when you don’t have a mom anymore on earth, but I want you to know that you go above and beyond the title of a mother. I know that grandma would be so proud of everything you have done in your life.

Love you forever,

Erin