Dear Mom,
Six thousand, five hundred and seventy days. It’s hard to believe I’ve lived for 6,570 days, and now I am eighteen. The past 18 years have been filled with triumphs and challenges. Wonderful memories like you reading aloud to the family as we sat together in the living room, all the time and attention you gave me when I was homeschooled, and your ongoing patience with me even when I refused to talk to you for a day because of long division.
When I think back through the years, so many moments stand out to me. Taking pictures in the park on the rainy day of my eighth-grade graduation, bonding over old movies and Jimmy Stewart, or talking on long car drives as you drove me to all my sports games. We also had our fair share of challenges. Moments with me in tears at 3 a.m. trying to finish an essay with you staying up with me to make sure I finished. We have fought over things that were too insignificant to remember but still made our relationship rocky at times.
Still, through it all, I knew you loved me. You have seen me at my worst. Slamming the door on my way to school after tearing apart my room to find my keys or refusing to get out of the car for a pajama party, terrified I would be the only one wearing them. You have pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to challenge myself.
I have seen you sacrifice your time and sanity for your four kids. Every stain you scrubbed away. Every last-minute run to the store to get something for a project we forgot about. Being a mother is an exhausting and often thankless job, but I want you to know I see you. Thank you for all the times I should have said thank you. Thank you for choosing me.
In your love and support for me, I see the love and dedication of all mothers. To every mom, thank you for choosing your child. In those exhausting and frustrating moments when you wonder if your teen even cares, I want to encourage you that we do. We might not always articulate it or look like we’re listening, but we love you so much. You have taught us what we need to succeed as we launch into adult life. You have taught us what it means to be servant-hearted and put God first in everything.
It won’t be long before I walk across that stage to get my diploma and into the next chapter in my life. I am excited, beyond excited, to step into what God has for me, but please know I will not forget you. In every crowd, you will always be at the front. My biggest cheerleader. I cannot wait to be a Mom one day and share the lessons you have taught me with my kids. I hope my children know I am there for them, I love them, and I will always cheer them on.
The first 18 years of my life have flown by, and I know you might be afraid to lose your little girl, but I promise you won’t. As a quote from one of my favorite children’s books, “‘I’ll Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch says, “I’ll love you forever. I’ll like you for always. As long as I’m living, my baby, you’ll be.” That’s me, Mom, your baby girl.
To every mom, 6,570 days may go by much too quickly, but you make every moment become a lifetime of treasured memories. Your teen loves you, no matter how many times they roll their eyes or say “whatever.” Thank you so much for all you do, both the seen and the unseen. God Bless you.
Love,
Kara
by Sherry White 
