Every fall, the same thing happens to me: I get the flu shot, because my immune system attacks itself (What’s your superpower?) leaving me vulnerable to getting sick quickly. Every year, I get sick from the flu shot resulting in a winter-long sinus infection. At the moment, I am recovering from the flu shot, and it occurred to me just how much I miss my mommy, right now.

I have always been a fairly independent girl and do not like being the center of attention, but, when I get sick, it is nice to have someone to say, “Awe, poor thing." My mom was that mom who made me go to school if I was not throwing up or running a fever. If I just “felt bad”, I was given Tylenol and going to school. This rang especially true when I was in high school; probably because I went to a school where I had classes two days a week and did homework on the days I did not have school. Despite my mom forcing school upon me (like most mothers do), she still felt bad that I was sick and gave me extra love and care (also, like all mothers do).

I am currently sitting in my dorm room with a Kleenex box by my side and have consumed so much hot tea you would think I was a tea botanist. (Yes, mom, I am okay and no, I do not need anything- except maybe some more tea.) I have realized that I miss my mom; a college taboo, I know. I miss her pushing my hair off my face to kiss my forehead and hugging me. I miss the way her voice sounds when she feels sentimental; her pitch gets higher but her tone gets softer, just like a mother’s voice should be when her baby is sick.

I went home during fall break, which was when I got my flu shot, and I became sick very quickly. My mom heard me coughing and sniffling and immediately approached about my health. I tried to brush it off because this happens every year. She insisted my dad go to the store and get some sort of nasal decongestant when he went out the next day. Well, when my dad came back from work and errands the next evening, guess who forgot to buy the medicine? My father. Again, it was not a big deal, because I am used to this, but apparently my absence from home made my mother more motherly (which I did not know could happen), and she turned “momma bear” on my dad and made him go back out to buy medicine. It was quite the spectacle and, honestly, I am kind of mad at myself for not filming my mother lecture my dad about forgetting to buy his daughter, a sick college student, medicine.

When I left to return to college, my sweet momma cried as I left. It occurred to me just how much I would miss her. I love being an adult and I love college, but I also love my family- especially my mommy. Being sick and in college has taught me the importance of realizing just how much my mom has sacrificed and will continue to sacrifice for me and my wellbeing. Please, those of you who have left the nest, do not forget the sacrifices your mom made for you. For those of you who still live at home, do not take for granted the sacrifices your mom makes for you. Remember to thank your moms today.