Dear Mom,
Every year for Mother’s Day I made you breakfast and served it to you in bed. This year, I’m hundreds of miles away from home, too far to fix you French toast and French pressed coffee, your favorite type of coffee. So I will write you this letter of gratitude instead, an open letter to all of the inspirational mothers out there, from your daughters who are studying at far away colleges.
We’ve been through so much together, Mom. People say that life is short, but it’s actually the longest thing we’re ever going to experience. Sometimes I forget that you’re still growing, just like me. You are the reminder that people never stop growing up, no matter what age they are. Throughout my life I’ve witnessed you try different things, tackle new projects, overcome obstacles and adversities that might have scared the shit out of you, and still remain radiant. When I think about you, I have no qualms about the future.
I’m saying this all from the vantage point of a young adult. But there were plenty times when I was so hard on you. I would actively challenge you. I remember the fights we got into when I was a teenager; when you told me to change my skirt because it was too short, and I knew it was very short, but I had just watched “Mean Girls” for the first time and I wanted to push the limits; or when you found out that I had a party at our house when you and Dad went out of town and I told you that I hated you because you threatened to make me call everybody’s parents.
I should never say that I hate you. You are doing the best you can, and you are SO good at it.
You are the only constant in my life. You are in every happy memory, at every choir concert, at every parent teacher conference; you pick me up after ballet, you make my lunches and write inspirational notes onto my napkins; last night you ended our conversation with “I love you. Call me later so I know that you got home safe.”
I have my best friends, I might one day have a husband, but nobody is ever going to love me as much as you love me. You’re the one who took me to get a new lacey bra at Victoria’s Secret after my first real break-up, reminding me that I’m fierce and fabulous, no matter what a stupid boy might say. We then went to Ben and Jerry’s where you pointed to the sign on the front door and said that these were the only two men worth my time.
I cherish you, I respect you, and I admire you, Mom. I would be lost without you. Even though you’re far away right now, I know that if I ever feel alone or afraid, I just have to think about you to muster up strength and courage.
There might come a time where I’ll have a daughter, and I know I’ll be a good mother, because I have the best mother in the world.
Every day is Mother’s Day. I love you.
Yours truly,
Your collegiate daughter