I'm not a regular mom, I'm a cool mom.
-Mrs. George from Mean Girls

I'm really thankful my mom isn't a "cool mom". Moms aren't supposed to be our best friends all the time. They're supposed to mother us. They're supposed to take a stand for what is right, tell us when we're being stupid, and help us get back on track.

You can always find best friends, but you will only have a few people who can fill the "Mom" role. Some of us are lucky enough to have other older women in our lives that give us advice, let us learn from their mistakes, and help us along our way.

I can talk with my friends about boys, girl drama, and whatever else "cool moms" are supposed to be interested in, but my mom is a wealth of information about things that really matter. She has taught me how to speak my mind and yet be polite, to walk with confidence and yet be humble, and to love others without reservation.

Rather than partying, my mom encourages me to do things that challenge me.

See also: I'm The Girl With The 'Cool Mom'

Being a good mom isn't a popularity contest. Sometimes our parents have to do things that we won't like because it's what's truly best for us. Mrs. George wasn't necessarily a good mother to Regina because she was insecure with who she was and needed the approval of her daughter in order to feel good about herself. Instead of instilling Regina with self-confidence, she showed her how to be dependent on the opinions of others.

Maybe if I had a "cool mom" I would have been part of the popular crowd and lived the typical teenage life, but instead, I learned more about how to behave like an adult and become part of my community.

One of the best things I've learned from my mom is that it's okay to not be cool. She showed me that it's okay to be yourself and not worry about other's opinions. Whether it was coming to pick me up from middle school in her paint stained sweats because she was working on the house, or arguing with the insurance company, she embarrassed me at times, but I've learned that letting go of the need to be cool is incredibly freeing. I'm thankful that I had such a strong woman raise me.

My mom will never be the "cool mom" and I wouldn't have it any other way.

See also: Dear Mom, Now That I'm Older