As I've gotten older, I've begun to realize how unappreciative I can be. I have a tendency to take life, and the people in it, for granted. Therefore, this article is dedicated to my mom in an effort to compensate for all the times I forgot to remind her just how much she means to me. This one is for you, momma.

Dear Mommy,

Although it could never be said enough, I love you so much. I know it doesn't always seem like it, but you truly are the most important person in my life. I don't know what I would do without you. I regret all the times I forgot to tell you how much I love you and how thankful I am to have such a strong and influential woman as my mother. I regret all the hugs and kisses I kept to myself because I was "too cool" to kiss you in public. I'm sorry for being such a handful and I'm sorry for all the times I pushed you past your limits. I realize raising four children was not a simple task, and I'm sorry I didn't make it any easier for you. I'm sorry for being so stubborn and hard headed, even though we both know where I get it from (hint: it's not dad). I'm sorry for all the fights I picked and the hurtful things I've said. But most of all, I'm sorry for never appreciating you enough.

As a student in college, I am beginning to realize all the things I have never had to do for myself, simply because you always took the initiative of doing it for me. Dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, and cooking have always been a foreign concept to me. I have never had to clean a bathroom or schedule a doctor's appointment. I'm still getting the hang of this whole "adult" thing- sometimes I still clog the sink with coffee grounds or forget to add detergent to my laundry. Clearly I'm not at your level yet, but I'm getting there. I'm so thankful for how well you raised me. Everything I know, I learned through you. Your strength, selflessness, and perseverance continuously inspire me to challenge myself to become a better person each and every day. You always pushed me to be the best I could possibly be, especially in school. You drove me to every soccer, softball, and basketball game, even the ones that were hours away, and you were always my number one fan. Your endless stream of support has followed me throughout life and has led me to where I am today. Thank you for always believing in me and letting me make my own mistakes. Thank you for always being there to pick me up and always knowing what to say. Thank you for helping me create my own path in life and for always being proud of me regardless of where I ended up. Thank you for always believing in me even when I did not believe in myself. Thank you for all the things you have done for me and all the things you continue to do. Without you, many of the accomplishments I've made and circumstances I've overcome wouldn't have been possible.

You may not believe it, but I am so proud of you. You are truly my role model. These past few years have undoubtedly been a roller coaster. You have faced many losses, but never stopped looking at life with positivity. You have overcome every challenge life has thrown your way with pride and dignity. And throughout it all, you never lost sight of yourself. You continue to look for the best in people, even when they do not necessarily deserve it. You are the most generous person I know; you are always giving more than you have and never expecting anything in return.

I can not say this enough, but I love you and I miss you. I miss waking up to your beautiful face and an even more beautiful plate of chocolate chip pancakes on the kitchen table every morning. I miss the cup of tea you would make me before bed after a long day, followed by an hour or two of tickles. I miss our many movie marathons, most of which were Harry Potter. But most of all, I miss your crazy ball of emotions. You never failed to cry over everything and anything, as I'm sure you are doing right now. Don't worry, so am I.

So as I begin to shed tears on my laptop, I ask that you please remember no matter how old I get, I will always need my mommy. You are forever the number one person in my life. I love you to death.