To the one person who I know has my back through thick and thin, my number one fan and supporter and the only person who knows me inside and out,

You’re not only my mother, but my absolute best friend, the number one person in my life. I tell you I love you as much as I can, but I never actually tell you how much you mean to me. You deserve to be appreciated with the (outrageous) amount of work you put into raising me to be the person I am today. There are cracks and flaws in my character, but you’ve repaired me as much as you can with all the love you have, doing your best to mend both my physical and emotional bruises that I’ve gathered so far in my life. The bandaids you would wrap carefully over my minor cuts and scrapes are nothing compared to the hugs and comforting embraces you wrapped me in when I was drowning in my own self pity and self made rivers flowing profusely from my eyes.

From the nights when I could barely see out of my swollen eyes after crying too much to the days when I couldn’t bring myself to leave my bed or act like an actual human being, you were there. From the days we would spend going for drives with all the windows down, hair blowing every which way to having wrapping paper tube fights in the middle of Target, running around like children, you’ve been my partner in crime. My point is, my happiness and optimism of life stems from the positive moments I’ve shared with you and the most important lesson that you’ve taught me: life is going to throw curveballs and all the bad stuff at me, but it’s worth it to stick around to see the good.

It’s understood that a mother should be the most important figure in a person’s life, and I completely agree with that statement. You’ve made me realize that my life is what I make it out to be and should be more important with regards to how I treat it. You give me respect and honesty when I deserve it and discipline when I don’t. You’ve taught me right and wrong, good and bad and I can’t thank you enough for that.

Most importantly, you taught me to be strong and brave in the faces of evil and fear. You’re a strong and independent woman who hasn’t given up or backed down when you easily could many times. When things got tough and you felt alone, you kept pushing through. It’s that perseverance that has kept me grounded as a reminder to not give up, even if I want to.

Thank you for being the biggest inspiration of mine, the one person I can learn the most from and my hero. In all the ways my life could’ve turned out, I’m more than happy to have been blessed with a beautiful woman like you as a role model, caregiver and friend. I’ll be on your side no matter what, just like you’ve always been on mine.

So thank you for the past eighteen years of my life filled with tears, fears, laughs and lots of love. Thank you for lessons and memories and late nights and heart to hearts. You are my favorite person in the whole world and I’m glad you’ve stuck it out. No matter who has been in your life or who has fallen out of it, I’m damn sure that they’re proud of the person, mother and friend you are. I love you so much and I’m so damn thankful, I really am.

Love,

your favorite daughter (Crymes child)

Side note: I wrote this as a tribute to my mother, who has been my rock for my entire life. She deserves to hear how much she's loved and I don't think I tell her as often as I should. My challenge this week is to show appreciation for that maternal figure in your life. She's done more for you than you can think of.

Cheers XX