Mom,

When children are young they look up to their parents. They want to be like them more than anything, and I was no exception. Children believe their parents are superheroes. Then they reach their teens and all hell breaks lose. I am so sorry you and Dad had to put up with me-- I will never understand how you both did it. Teens want to be nothing like their parents in any way. Then they grow up some more and they decide who they really want to be. They find their passions and realize they have to follow their hearts. Again, I was no exception. My heart lead me right back to where you always knew it would. We always hear, “Wow you look just like your mother!”. That would bother most children, but never me. I take great pride in the fact that I look like you. I couldn’t imagine the alternative. You give me something to strive to be.

A simple “thank you” will never be enough. I can say it as much as I want, but it will never be enough. You have given me everything. You raised two children as a single mother, and I am very proud of that. You taught me to stand up for what I believe in, not to back down no matter what. You taught me that I am one person, but I have a voice and that voice matters. You are always there when I need you, even two hours away. You are my best friend. You keep me together and I do not know what I would do without you. You hold me up when I feel like I have no legs to stand on and you are always in my corner fighting for me even if I don’t deserve it.

One of the best and worst things you have ever given me is to see you break down and cry. Sometimes I forget you are human. The things I see you do, the way I see you hold everything together just does not seem possible. Then the unthinkable happens and I see you have a slight moment of weakness and I remember you are a person with feelings are that it is hard to keep everything looking perfect. My biggest thank you is, you letting me be a rock for you. I am a small rock, but a rock nonetheless. You forget that you do not have to go through anything and everything alone. I have to pry, pull, and dig to make you let me help you. I take my job as one of your rocks very seriously and it is very important to me. You have spent the last 20 years of your life making sure we are OK, but we want nothing more than to make sure you are OK.

You will never know what you mean to me. You have given me huge shoes to fill. You are my superhero, now and forever. You hold the world on your shoulders and do so gracefully. I hope that one day I am even half the woman you are. I love you to the moon and back.