Being the broke college girl that I am, my best attempt at a birthday present is this letter. You deserve so much more than this but I hope that I can make it up to you once I make something out of myself!
Now that I am off on my own, I am so grateful for all of the small things you have done for me. When I was stuck in the cramped, dingy laundry room at three in the morning because I had been pushing it off and was completely out of clothes for the next day of classes, I could not help but be thankful for the many nights you saved me from doing exactly that. When I had Chick-Fil-A for the 6th time in one week (and it only being Wednesday) I missed your home cooking more than anything. I know I do not call as much as I should, but I want you to know that I miss you every. single. day. I am just trying to prove to you that you were very successful in raising a very independent girl. Along with making me independent, you made me strong. You taught me to not let minor setbacks let me down. You gave me the tools to fix my own problems instead of teaching me to rely on others to get the job done for me. I can not begin to explain how much this has helped me now that I am at college.
I read articles all the time about moms who worry that they did not get it right. I want to assure you that you did. Sure, we fight. We get irritated with each other. But Allie and I are happy. We are healthy. We have received not only everything we needed, but almost everything we wanted. (Except for that Human Hamster Ball Allie asks for every Christmas). If anything, I am the one who does not have it right. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with school work and all of my amazing friends at college that I somehow forget to check in with the person who helped me get as far as I have. I do not say it enough, but THANK YOU. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to further my education. Thank you for letting me fly out of the nest and meet new, amazing people. I could go on forever about the many things I am thankful for and yet, those two words will never be enough.
Although you are many great things, I admire how supportive you are. Whether you stood behind me in my serious decisions (like which college I wanted to attend) or my goofy ones (Like going into a salon for one of those full body wraps), you have made it a point to show how proud you are of me and it has impacted me in more ways than you could possibly know. I do everything in hopes that it will make you and dad proud. The feeling I get when I see your eyes light up and your smile grow wide is one I would not mind feeling forever. I want to spend the rest of my life making you proud.
So here is to you Mom. The woman who had the heart to raise not only one, but two insane girls. Who had the ability to deal with all the mood swings and temperaments that happened during the few years that Al and I were both in the middle of our teenage years. Here is to the woman who , even when she did not have the strength for herself, found the strength to help her daughters with school work after a long day of work. Here is to you Mom, I love you to the moon and back.
P.s.
I was looking through pictures to post for this letter and I came across this one and it reminded me of another thing I am thankful for...
Thank you for not only embracing the weird nature of Allie and I, but also joining in on it. Not once in my life have I been afraid to let my true nature shine and I owe that to you. I am so comfortable in my own skin because you have taught me since I was a little girl that originality is beautiful. Whether I am showing off my worst dance moves on the kitchen stools or screeching "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the car, you do not judge me. That is one of the many things I love you for.
Sincerely,
Sidney
