Dear Mommy,

I can’t even start to thank you for all that you’ve done for me over the years. I know it’s been a hard task to do alone, but you succeeded and quite well if I can say. You are my biggest role model, and everything I am is because of you.

Ever since I was small, you taught me that loving myself and loving God are the most important relationships I need in my life. I struggled a lot through my youth because I was dealing with issues of self worth, bullying amongst the other issues teenage girls deal with. On top of that, I was dealing with my father leaving! Hormones on top of hormones.

I know that being the oldest and being the first to leave to college was a very tough day for you. Your baby girl was starting a new chapter of her life alone, states away. Of course I was nervous as all heck because you were my best friend, my mentor and everything in between. How would I be able to cope emotionally with all the news challenges college will bring without my sidekick at my side?

You gave me all the necessary skills to succeed and become the best me I can be. You taught me to be fiercely independent, passionate about my field, and a girl who appreciates and loves every moment. You taught me that I don't need a man to validate my worth; that I have worth just being my own beautiful, unique self.

Momma, I know that as I grow older, the phone calls will become more rushed and the conversations shorter. That's how life progresses. But know you will always be my best friend, and you did the absolute job playing both my mother and father. You were the best of both worlds for both me and my brother. I don't know if I would be able to even do half the things you did to ensure our happiness.I can never put into words how much you mean to me, and how much I love absolutely everything about you. Just know everything I have done, currently do, and continue to do is and will always be for you. My superhero, my mom and my dad, my world.. You deserve everything good in the universe and I promise I will do my absolute best to give it to you.

Lots of love,

Your extremely grateful daughter