My mom and I are only 18 years apart. Yes, you read that right - 18 years apart. I was at her high school graduation, went to college classes with her at times, and was there clapping and screaming when she graduated college. Having such a young mom definitely makes our mother-daughter dynamic different than most, but I wouldn't change it for the world. We have done everything together since the day I was born, we've grown up together, we've lived life together. If you have a mother-daughter dynamic like mine, you know how truly lucky you are. This is a thank you to you mom on your special day.

Thank you for always protecting me. I know it definitely hasn't been easy with the toxicity surrounding us but you have always made sure I knew right from wrong and just how loved I was by you

Thank you for being my best friend and mom, but always my mom first.

Thank you for always supporting me and being my #1 fan. WIthout your unconditional support and love, I would not be the athlete, writer or person I am today.

Thank you for being the strong independent woman you are today and teaching me to be the same. Watching you be the way you are has always both amazed and inspired me.

Thank you for defying stereotypes the way you have in life. You have truly shown me that you can be anything you want in life if you put in the work.

Thank you for always being my shoulder to cry on, no matter how old I am.

Thank you for choosing the man you did to be your husband, and the best father to me. And thank you for making me your maid of honor in your wedding, it meant more to me than you will ever know.

Thank you for the endless car rides where we laugh until we are crying and talk about for days to come. There is nothing I love more than those car rides.

Thank you for listening to my rants and ranting with me about life.

Thank you for blessing me with your same blue eyes. They shine brightly just like us.

Thank you for giving life to me and those two crazy kids I love unconditionally.

But thank you most of all for being you. There is no one in this world quite like you, just like there is no bond quite like ours. I love you unconditionally. I'm so proud to have you as my mom and hope to be at least half the women you are one day.

Love,

Your baby girl