Dear Mom,

I promised myself, time and time again, that I would never say this, but I'm going to now. You were right, and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I was such a stubborn, strong-headed and oftentimes difficult child. I'm sorry I swore I was right when I wasn't, and I'm sorry that I still do that now. But, really, you were right. I understand why you did what you did and said what you said. I understand why you were so worried when your little girl went off to high school, why you said I dressed "too cute" sometimes and why you worried about where I was and who I was with. I get it now. No, I don't understand all of it, nor am I under the impression you were perfect because, let's face it, none of us are, but you did a good job. You raised me much better than I wanted to raise myself in the lovely 'tween years when I was so sure you were screwing up my life.

Thank you for telling me no. I don't want to be some dependent, government-blaming, lazy young adult like I see all too often now and you raised me not to be. That I am ever grateful for. Thank you for teaching me how to do laundry. Thank you teaching me how to clean a kitchen and a bathroom and to tidy up. At the time they were just chores, but now they are how I'm going to keep my apartment and someday my house organized. Thank you for teaching me to cook. Thank you a hundred times over for that. I don't want to be reliant on fast food or just some recipe every time I'm hungry.

Thank you for giving me the knowledge base to create my literal life sustenance. Thank you for always encouraging me to follow my dreams even though they changed like a million times in the last seven years. Even if you never said it out loud, I knew you would have my back in whatever I decided to do. Thank you for supporting my talents, passions and hobbies. I know driving me to dance classes and sports practices and all my other activities was difficult and often kept you from doing the things you were passionate about, but thank you for sacrificing your time and convince for me. Thank you for showing up when it mattered. Thank you for letting me push myself even when others were concerned I was doing "too much." You had faith in me when others did not.Thank you for giving me so many opportunities because you were willing to make it work if I wanted to do an activity.

I'm sorry I've taken this long to thank you for raising me to be a good human being. The older I get the more I realize how many people there are that are really bad at being a good humans. Thank you for teaching me otherwise. Thank you for raising me to believe the things I believe, but with the patients and understanding to love and live in harmony with other people even though they may believe and think differently from me. Thank you for teaching me so much. I know I am nowhere near done learning things from you. I love you, Mom.

Love,
Me.