Dear My Friend's Mother,

There are quite a few things I wish to tell you. Well, to be more exact, I'd like to thank you.

Thank you for your child, who you raised to be the wonderful person she is today. She's my best friend, and I know she gets most of her qualities from you. She looks up to you so much, and I can see why. I don't think I have ever told you, though, how much I appreciate you raising my future friend all these years. Our friendship may have not have been possible if she had been raised by another. You helped her craft her identity, and made her the girl she is today, my best friend, even though none of us knew this was the future at the time.

Thank you for taking care of me like your own. I know we aren't related by blood, but like how your daughter is my sister in everything but blood, I find that you have joined my family too. I know it comforts my own mother to know that when I'm away from her, you're there watching over me. I know that you'll treat me like your own, even when your daughter and I have our little arguments, because you know we'll always bounce back together as best friends do.

Thank you for everything you've done. Thanks for not judging our awful singing when we karaoke random Disney songs in the kitchen as we scavenge for snacks. Thanks for letting us take over your TV to binge-watch "Doctor Who" or "Lord of the Rings" together and even joining us. Thanks for letting me sleep over at your house, despite knowing that no matter how hard we try to be quiet, we will always end up accidentally waking you up with our laughter. Thank you for cooking us food and taking us places. Thank you for always greeting me with a smile, even before I got to know you. Thank you for putting up with all of our antics; I know sometimes we can make your head spin if we're together for too long.

Thank you for being a powerful woman. Like my own mother, you inspire me. You inspire me to be the best I can. I see you and my mom always making time to help us, always juggling a thousand things and doing it well. You're a role model, not just to your own daughter, but to her friends too. You've never made me feel uncomfortable or unwelcome. You are a powerful woman in control and it is incredibly amazing to watch you work. It seems so effortless, the handle you have on everything. Your daughter and I know, however, how much hard work you put into it though. We thank you.

I could go on and on, but I know you probably know it all already. Moms have a sense about these things, I find. So I guess I'll just wrap it up now, because you've got a million things to do. And, yet, here you are, giving me a moment of your time because you care.

I thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Daughter's Friend (and yours too)