Motherhood is rough. It's stressful and it can be messy. Constantly wondering if you're parenting good enough, and if you're teaching them the right things. I can guarantee you that you did all of those things, mom.

Never have I met a woman who's capabilities were strong enough to raise two children majority of the time by herself. You made it all look so easy. Motherhood isn't easy, yet everything was done with grace.

You've always worked, and you've always always worked hard, ever since I can remember. If there were things to get done,they always got done. Your stress-relief was putting us to bed and getting a few minutes to yourself before going to bed as well, ready to take on the day that laid ahead of you whenever you awoke.

Regardless of how much you worked, you always made sure that you had time for us. You rarely ever missed one of my ball games, and if you did, it was because it was an away game and you wouldn't get off in time to see me play. Even then, you somehow managed to show up to those games majority of the time.

In reality, I have no idea how you raised us while working as much as she did. But you did it, and for that I'm forever grateful.

I know that there were days where you were stressed out and at your breaking point. But you never let on to us if things were bad. You always managed to take care of us and made sure that at the end of the day, we lived a happy life.

The amount of pressure that you felt some days would have broken most people. But you never gave up. You were able to find something in yourself to always keep pushing, and to continue to take care of us. You taught me everything I've ever needed to know. Your lessons were not only in how to do things in our every day lives, but you taught me things that will forever have a major impact on my life.

You were the one that taught me how to pray.

You were the one that taught me to tie my shoes.

You were the one that taught me that things happen for a reason, and that God has a plan for me, and everyone else in the world.

Most importantly, you taught me how to be a strong woman. From this, I learned how to be independent and to not rely on other people. I saw you raise two girls by yourself (practically) until a few years ago. Watching you be so strong and independent made you a role model and what I aspire every day to be like.

You might not even realize how much I look up to you, but I do. You've never given up on me, even though sometimes I wanted to give up on myself. When I was down on my knees, ready to quit, you somehow helped me push through until I was on my feet again.

I just want you to know that I can never express enough gratitude to you for being such an amazing individual. I want you to know that I'm forever grateful for getting the chance to be your daughter.

Thank you for being tough when you needed to be tough, and thank you for giving me guidance and help through this crazy and strange world.

And If I turn out to be even half the woman you have been, I can not complain, because even half is more than I could ever ask for.

Thank you, Mom.