DaughtersI will never be the sweet mom who primps your hair and goes shopping at the mall. I will never be the dumb mom that pretends she doesn’t know the mischief you do. I will never be the mom who lies to you, or tells you that you are better than you really are just to save your feelings. I will never be the mom who stayed married to your dad for the sake of the children. I will never be the team mom who brings homemade cupcakes for after the game. I will never be the mom who teaches you about make-up and a lot of the girly things. I will never be the mom who helicopters your every move. I will never be the mom that says, “Not MY kid….” I will never be the mom that allows you to hurt yourself or others. I will never be the mom who abandons you. I will never be the picture, perfect mom, baking cookies with the exact right thing to say at all times.

But…

I will always be the mom who loves you unconditionally and forgives you for whatever sin, or misdeed you do. I will always be the mom who spent Spring Break in Greece and Italy with you. I will always be the mom who picks you up in the middle of the night when you call, no matter where you are. I will always be the mom who took you on midnight toilet papering escapades. I will always be the mom that tells you that you can do anything that you put your mind to. I will always be the mom that never judges you. I will always be the mom that will tolerate your misgivings. I will always be the mom to whom you can tell anything, anytime, anywhere. I will always be the mom who will make time for you, no matter my schedule. I will always be the mom who didn’t lose her cool when I’m called to rescue you from mistakes that you made. I will always be the mom who rescues your friends, too. I will always be the mom who keeps your secrets. I will always be the mom who woke you up at two in the morning to go driving in the thunder storms. I will always be the mom to take you to Sunken City in the middle of the night. I will always be the mom that taught you to drive a car. I will always be the mom that coached you, instead of being the team mom. I will always be the mom that taught you how to play sports and the mom who always played them with you. I will always be the mom who will allow you to learn from your mistakes, even though I’ve made the same ones. I will always be the mom who goes to ball games and hockey games with you. I will always be the mom who gives you all the possible support you’ll need for anything that you do. I will always be the mom who loves who you love. I will always be the mom with whom you can hang out on a weekend night when your friends went out without you. I will always be the mom who allowed you to “sink or swim” — literally. I will always be the mom who lovingly embarrasses you. I will always be the mom with whom you can have tequila shots. I will always be the mom to help you with your prospects. I will always be the mom to correct your spelling and grammar. I will always be the mom that taught you to be yourself. I will always be the mom who let you graffiti your bedroom walls. I will always be the mom who sang you to sleep and sang you awake. I will always be the mom who read to you at your will. I will always be the mom who let you wear your pajamas to school. I will always be the mom who does what she says, and says what she does, and sometimes you won’t like what I say, how I say it, or what I do.

I will always be the mom who taught you to be independent and strong women in a world where it’s frowned upon.

When I’m gone and my ashes are one with the ocean, I hope that you’ll remember me as the mom who was different, original, giving, loving, resourceful, accepting, a little crazy, and most of all, the mom who loves you like no other.

I’ve devoted my life to you and I don’t regret a single minute of it.

~Your momma