Dear Mom

On October 12, 1993 a beautiful little girl (me, obviously) changed your life forever. You were no longer just a wife but you were a mom too. On that day, my needs were moved to the forefront of your life. Whether it be when I was a baby and screaming in the middle of the night or at three in the morning on my twenty-first birthday when my whole plans for the future shattered and I wept and you sat there and listened. I have never known a day when you put your wants or needs ahead of mine and to see that kind of selflessness is absolutely beautiful.

As I've gotten older, I've noticed that you've lost sight of your worth not only as a wife and mother, but simply as a person. Believe it or not, you are completely whole and valid and wonderful on your own. You would still be important if none of us were here. I think that's something that mom's struggle with (not that I know, but it's something that I've noticed.) Their whole identity becomes wrapped up in their children and when they mess up in the slightest way, they feel completely invalid. Guess what, mommas, y'all are so valid.

But to my mom, hi.

Look at our matching turtle neck game circa 2004

Or that day you cleaned the porta potties by yourself because I was a cry baby in Mexico in 2009

Or in October of 2009 when it was our last time taking a picture together with me being your only daughter

and this lovely picture from 2009 (2009 was an interesting year)

and driving to my mother/daughter tea at college last year

And how on point our family looks now:

But anyways, this post is to thank you.


Thank you. Thank you for the pretty dresses you dressed me in when I was little. Thank you for giving me a heart for music and a voice to go with it. Thank you for pushing me out of my comfort zone when I needed it and sheltering me when you knew that life would be too much then. Thank you for all the times you came and picked me up at 2:45 in the morning from sleep overs that I felt unwelcome at. Thank you for reminding me that I'm beautiful even when boys don't tell me that I am. Thank you for picking me up from school when the bullies were overwhelming me. Thank you for standing up for me when I couldn't stand up for myself. Thank you for the prom dress shopping that we spent way too much money on. Thank you for every Taylor Swift album you pre-ordered for me without me knowing. Thank you for the chicken alfredo that you cook for my birthday every year. Thank you for the Swedish Fish and Dr. Peppers that you would bring me after school each day. Thank you for letting me cry when I needed to and for telling me to suck it up when I was being a diva. Thank you for telling me my eyebrows were too thick when I thought my eyebrow game was strong. Thank you for being a shining example of grace and love and kindness and strength.

You are by far the strongest woman I have ever met. I've never seen anyone fight for her family as strongly as you have. Thank you for believing in love and hope and life when nobody else did. You have overcome so much and you will overcome so much more. You are strong and kind and I am who I am because of you.

In the words of my second favorite human (Taylor Swift)

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall

I know you were on my side

Even when I was wrong

And I love you for giving me your eyes

Staying back and watching me shine

And I didn't know if you knew

So I'm taking this chance to say

That I had the best day

With you today