For many of us (especially us girls), our moms are our go-to person. We seek her out for input, for advice and for approval. She’s the first person we call when we hear good news and the first person we lean on when things aren’t going as planned.

As we get older, our moms transition into friends. While the mother-child relationship is always present, this new “friendship” is continuously growing. It’s effected by the experiences we encounter, the jobs we undertake and the friends we gain and lose.

While some moms are more transparent than others, there are a few things many moms don’t always tell you:

1. She never stops worrying.

Worrying is a second job for moms. They’re constantly thinking about where you’re at, what you’re doing and how your day has turned out. When we don’t pick up a phone call or respond to a text message, the level of worry rises.

2. She will never stay mad at you.

Yes, we infuriate our mothers every day…with our back-talk, our irrationalness and our high expectations. We hold a belief that in most scenarios, we know more than her despite the 30+ years of experience she holds over us. She may want to pull her hair out or scream into a pillow at times, but at the end of the day, she will never stay mad at you. You’re her son or daughter and she will always be on your side.

3. She lies, all the time.

I’m convinced most moms wouldn’t get through the day without telling at least one lie. But here’s the thing: she’s not lying to hurt you; she’s lying to protect you. Lying is inevitable, especially during your teenage years. Sure, your mom probably got into some trouble growing up but she won’t admit that. Why? Because she wants to protect you from the mistakes she made.

Remember that mother-friend relationship I talked about earlier? Expect many of those confessions to come out once you’ve established that relationship with her – I guarantee you’ll get a few laughs out of it.

4. She will always put you first.

No matter what mistakes you’ve made or the amount of times you’ve disappointed her, she will always put your needs before her own. You will always be her number one focus and her number one source of happiness. Oftentimes, we put ourselves first and fail to recognize how much she has sacrificed for us. Saying thank you for her support and guidance will be appreciated more than you know.

Our moms are a source of comfort, always providing a little piece of home no matter how far away we may be. The moment you were introduced to your mom for the first time was the same moment she was introduced to a new foundation of change. Always remember that while she may not tell you everything, there is a reason behind it and she has your best interests at heart. As you get older, you will become closer if you allow that relationship to form, and when all is said and done, there is no one you can count on like your mom.