Dear Mom,
Thank you. Thank you for what, you’re wondering? I don’t have one specific thing. If only I could remember everything that I have to thank you for, that list is undoubtedly infinite. It feels unfair that only I get to have you as my mom because every child should be able to grow up with someone like you in their life. You have surpassed any expectations as to what a mother should be. There is nothing I could ever do for you or any gift I could ever give to you, that would be equivalent to the things you have done for me and given to me in my lifetime thus far. So for now, I’m going to write you a rather extensive thank you note.
Thank you for listening to me. No matter what I have to say, you always listen to me. I honestly don’t know how you do it; I can surely be annoying sometimes. Maybe you have a secret mute button so you can just nod along to whatever I’m saying, that would make more sense. But in all seriousness, whether I want to tell you a funny story, ramble about how frustrating school is, or even when I have no words to say and prefer to just cry, you listen. And you’ll laugh, banter, or cry with me. But you also know when I need advice, and somehow you come up with advice that makes such perfect sense, and I’m confused as to how I couldn’t just think of it myself. Mother really does know best, I guess.
Thank you for being selfless, caring, thoughtful, generous, and everything else. Your personality matches every single positive adjective in the dictionary. A lot of things you do tend to be overlooked because they are tasks that are “expected” of mothers. You don’t have to cook dinner, or do laundry, or clean my room after I’ve left it a mess, yet you do. And you do it all effortlessly, too. You give constantly and don’t care if you receive anything in return. Every year on occasions like your birthday or Christmas, you say you want nothing every time. Of course, I always get you something anyway, because you deserve it, but I know that nothing I could get you would equate to what you really deserve, which is everything. Maybe one day I can find a way to give you that.
Thank you for being the greatest teacher I’ve ever had. Yes, I have great school teachers who teach me what I need to know about math and history, but you have taught me the valuable things that they don’t teach in school. You have shown me how to be a genuine person. You set the most admirable example every day; all I had to do as I grew up was watch you and I learned how to be a good person. Thanks to you I know that failure is fine and that second chances can be my best friend. You have taught me the importance of self-love and acceptance, and you push me to be the best version of myself. Without your words of optimism and encouragement, I’d probably be a whole lot more unsure of myself. Thank you for boosting my confidence.
Thank you for forgiving me, even when there was no way I deserved to be forgiven. I wish I could take back every time I yelled at you, scoffed at you, or ignored you. I have treated you unfairly too many times throughout my life, and I would take all of those times back if I could. As I know, (but would rather not admit), I’m in the wrong most of the time. But I also appreciate the fact that if you’re the one that’s in the wrong (which is rare, I know), you never fail to apologize to me. You are fair and you don’t avoid apologizing just because you’re the parent. You treat me and everyone else how you want to be treated, and that’s all I could ask for.
Thank you for being you, and for being there for me. For 18 years you have scheduled your life around me. You spent your time raising me. Because you didn’t grow up with an ideal childhood, I know how hard you tried to give me the life you wished for and to be the understanding, “cool” mother you wanted. Luckily I can tell you with 100% certainty that you have succeeded. If anyone deserves the “supermom” title, I know for a fact that it would be you. I was definitely in luck when I got paired with you in this life. I don’t know how it happened, but it’s probably in my best interest not to question it. I love you from now until forever, probably even longer. Thanks for everything mom.