You know that super cliché saying “You don’t know what you’ve got till’ its gone”?
It is true.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I always knew my mom was one-of-a-kind. I knew she was genuine, caring, supportive, loving, and my biggest fan. But I NEVER thought about what my life would be like without her. I never thought about her leaving this earth too early and missing so many things.
I took for granted the moments we shared assuming there would be many more.
I took for granted the little things because I never thought there would be a day I wouldn’t have them.
I took for granted the fact that my mom wouldn’t be around forever, never thinking for a second that she would be taken from my life so soon.
I loved my mom dearly. I enjoyed every second we had together. But I never thought those moments would be gone this early in my life. I never knew so many of those wonderful times would become just memories I have left of the person I loved so deeply.
So learn from that.
Cherish every single moment with your mom.
Pick up the phone and call her.
Tell her about your day.
Stop by her house just to lie in bed and be present.
Apologize for your wrongs and forgive her mistakes.
Never take the time you have with her for granted.
When my mom got sick my world was flipped upside down. I was not ready to lose her.
I was not ready to have to figure out how to conquer this really scary world without the person I thought was always supposed to be there.
I didn’t know how to live without her. I didn’t want to know how.
To this day, I am still trying to survive in a world that doesn’t include my favorite person.
This post originally appeared on the author’s blog