There’s some time in between high school and college when your mom becomes your best friend. The older I get, the more I realize that some of the best (and crazy) nights of my life have been by my mom’s side. It is often that we become so consumed with our own lives, and trying to be successful, that we forget to recognize that as we grow older, our loved ones are growing older, too. Our time to cherish the ones we love is limited.

That’s why every week I make it a point to get together with my mom. Whether that means going to her favorite diner, hanging out at Starbucks and talking about life, or going to see a movie.

No matter how busy life gets, I know that the most important thing I do each week is get together with my mom.

1. Tell her that you love her.

Sometimes we forget to remind those that we love how much they really mean to us, because we believe that the feeling is obvious. It might be, but reassurance that someone cares is always nice to hear.

So text your mom, call her, or stop by her house and let her know that you love her. One day you won’t be able too.

2. Make plans with her.

Make plans with your mom, no matter how busy both of you may be. We get so caught up in our daily routines, booking meetings, working long hours, and making plans with friends, that we forget to make time for the one person who brought us into this world, our mom.

We are all guilty of, “Oh, maybe next week! My life is crazy right now..” and then next week comes and well.. you know. No matter how crazy your life may be, taking the time to go out and talk with your mom provides a warm, mental sanity.

3. Stop holding grudges.

In high school, it’s easy to feel that your mom is attacking everything that you do. “She never agrees with me.” But as you get older you begin to realize that the reason she’s telling you not to do something is that she’s already done it, and is trying to save you from making the same stupid choices that she made as a teenager.

Sure, she says things sometimes that she doesn’t mean and it bothers you, but you’ve done the same to her. Don’t let little arguments turn into big feuds. Life is too short to let the little things overshadow love.

4. Don’t discredit all that she does.

Don’t forget that your mother is the person who carried you around for 9 months. At one point you guys were stuck hip to hip, literally.

My mom is one of the hardest working people that I know. Sometimes working 14 hour days and forgetting to take a break to eat lunch, and never complaining about having to get up the next day and do the same thing. Moms are the strongest creatures on this earth, and you shouldn’t discredit all that they do (not just for you).

So take the time to appreciate your mother while you can, and don’t forget to remember that as you grow older, she is growing older, too.

Dedicated to my beloved Mother, and all of the hard-working mothers out there.