Mothers Day - All the things I've been meaning to tell you, mom

Life doesn't wait for anybody, and before we know it, we're old and grey, reminiscing or thinking about all the things we should've done when we could have. 

As a young adult, I've often taken my mother for granted. It's like, I know she'll be there, come what may. She's there to serve me breakfast before I make a dash for office and she's there to open the door for me, when I come home late. She's there, and she's always going to be there. 

Just like that, the days flew by and slowly, I was so caught up in building my career and maintaining other relationships, that I struggled to find the time to simply sit down with the person who means the most to me, and just talk to her and tell her how much she means to me. 

As utterly terrible as it may be, Mother's Day is for people like me. Although I believe that devoting just one day to showing gratitude and thanks towards the person who gave birth to us, is just not good enough, the truth is that the celebration of this day is a reminder for me to drop everything I'm doing, and take time out to honor my dearest mother. It's a new chance every year, to wake up and recognize the significance of her in my life and to make it known to her that even though I may not always show it, she means more to me than life itself. 

With Mother's Day approaching, here are 10 things I would like to tell my mother -I'm sure you will relate to...

1. I am who I am because of the amazing woman that raised me. You are my role model, my best friend and my greatest strength. 

2. There is just no better cook than you. Not even grandma. 

3. For all those times you told me “no” while growing up, I want to thank you for that. I want to thank you for keeping me safe and under your wing. I want to thank you for knowing what was best when my mind was too naive and unwise to know myself. I want to thank you for keeping me out of trouble and for not hating me when I still got into it.

4. You taught me that life has consequences and that I need to think before I speak and reflect before I do. You've taught me how I need to consider others and the significance of my actions.

5. I’m grateful for the nights I was forced to spend in, and I’m sorry that I spent them locked in my room pouting instead of sitting out on the couch with you.

6. For all those times that some boy would break my heart and you would let me sulk in your room, watching movies until I’d stop crying. Thank you for the endless tissues, forcing me to eat something, not asking me what happened, and listening for hours when I decided to finally tell you.

7. Thank you for not judging me for being 13 and thinking my life is over. Thank you for reminding me at 23 that it wasn’t over, either. Thank you for your words of encouragement, the hugs that helped mend many broken hearts, and answering the phone at 2 am when I just couldn’t handle anything.

8. Remember my first day of college? I don’t think I ever told you that I cried when you left. Thank you for being the type of mom that would make me cry from missing you the moment when you left me in my dorm. 

9. I haven’t told you how grateful I am for you showing me the world and for giving yours up to do it. I haven’t told you that I didn’t understand sacrifice until I grew up and heard your story. I haven’t told you that I didn’t know what bravery was, until I knew that you embodied it. 

10. Last but not the least, I might have told you that I love you but I probably haven’t told you enough, and I'm sorry. I haven’t told you enough that you’re the main reason I never give up on my dreams. Thank you for being my backbone through it all, I could've never survived without you. I love you, mom.