If you haven’t learned this already, my mom is one of my best friends. Our relationship hasn’t always been like that, and it wasn’t until the last few years that things started to change. I’m the middle child, and suffered with middle child syndrome throughout my teenage years (some before and after, too), I was a pain in the ass, and I knew it. The whole my-parents-don’t-understand-me spiel was my life motto. Now I’m so grateful for the relationship I have with them, it’s funny how your parents always end up being right (tell that to 15-year old me). My dad and I have always been close, two peas in a pod (we’re both middle children, so I think there is some type of mutual understanding there). I think there is something to be said about a relationship evolving, when two people come to truly know and hear each other, that’s what makes my relationship with my mom so special.
It’s been one heck of a month. My sister moved, my brother moved, I’m in the process of moving. All of us on the hunt for work, not finding it, losing it, gaining it. Relationship problems, financial problems, school problems. Decisions.
My amazing mother has been through it with me, with all of us, every single step of the way. She supports us in every form of the word, and I just want her to know how appreciative I am. Not everyone has that, and I am beyond lucky-blessed-thankful to have that kind of person in my life. I think I called her three times in under an hour the other day because I couldn’t stop freaking out over something, and she answered every time, providing a listening ear and a word of advice. She took off work on short notice to accompany me on apartment hunting in Kansas City yesterday, to be that sounding board when I couldn’t make up my mind, and provided a sense of comfort in a strange place. That kind of unconditional love and support is hard to come by, seriously, and I think God for her. I hope she knows how every little (or big) act of kindness and selflessness affects me and others in her life in a positive way. Thank you for all that you have done, are doing, and will do for me, for being a best friend, for being my mom. Love you more.
Leila Marie 