Dear Mom,

For the past 19 years, you have been my best friend and my biggest fan. You have always been supportive of my dreams and have always stood on the sidelines and watched and supported me while I chased them.

There were times where I couldn’t see this. For a period in my life, I saw you as a villain. Every bad thing that happened to me as a 13-year-old emotional teenager I blamed on you, even if it wasn’t your fault. I didn’t want to look at you like a friend because I didn’t think it was cool. Unfortunately, this period lasted for a long time and I didn’t get to enjoy being your friend before leaving you for college for as long as I could have.

It wasn’t until the end of my junior year of high school when I realized that soon enough I wouldn’t see you every day that I began to change my opinion of you and the way that I acted towards you. For all of my life, even when I hated you, you had been one of the most constant parts of my life. You were always there for me when I needed you and always knew exactly what to say or do. When I realized that you suddenly weren’t going to be there anymore I got scared and I started looking at you differently.

Instead of despising you I tried to make a point of being nice to you. I began talking to you more and opening up to you and I realized that it was making me happier and that I should have been nicer to you.

When it came time to leave you for college, I was so incredibly upset. In the year leading up to leaving for college, you became a friend to me, someone who I looked up to and enjoyed spending time with. I realized how much you had done for me throughout my life. Even during my period of hating you, you were always by my side.

Now I’m taking the time to say thank you for everything you have ever done and continue to do for me. I love you so much and miss you all of the time while I am away.

Love Always,

Your Daughter