Dear Mom,

I was just getting used to having you back and always there for three months, and suddenly you are ripped away from me again. I breathed a sigh of relief when you and Dad showed up, smiling and ready to pack up my freshman year dorm room so that I could finally go back home. But all too soon, three months were over and we were driving back to school and moving me in for my second year of school.

And it's just as hard as the first time. At night, I don't want to lay in my bed alone and do my homework. I want to lay in your king sized bed and watch Parks and Recreation over and over again while we laugh at the same jokes we've heard a million times and talk about everything and nothing.

I want to sit on the kitchen counter while you make dinner and talk about our days. I want to sit outside with you while the sun is beginning to set and talk about all the drama happening in our lives. I want to lay on the couch and watch movies and check them off of our never ending list of movies to see. I want to bake with you and have you end up finishing it for me since I can never seem to do it right, no matter how closely I follow the directions. I want to lay on the floor and play with the dog while I complain that he chooses you over me, which he does.

I just want to hangout with you. There are some days where the only words going through my head are, "I miss my mom." And whenever I've had a stressful day or I just want to cry because I'm so stressed, you're the only person I want.

And even though I've done this before, it doesn't change the fact that as soon as I say goodbye, I'm already ready for you to come back. I text you all day every day and we FaceTime as often as we can, but sometimes it's just not enough. I need someone to be there who knows me better than myself who can help solve all of my problems. And sometimes I need someone to be my personal cheerleader and tell me that no matter how much work I still have to do, that I'm doing a great job. And you are always that person for me.

So even though this is our second time around, just know that I still miss you and need you more than ever. Especially when you offer to do my laundry for me, clean my room for me, and make my bed for me. Just because I'm away and having a good year does not mean that I miss you less or that I need you any less. And yes, I know that you are probably crying your eyes out right now, but I take that as an accomplishment.

So Mom, know that I love you. And that even though this is my second year, leaving you does not get any easier.

I love you,

Your daughter