Consider yourself lucky when you don’t have to look for a best friend, but it naturally happens—because she’s your mom.
My mom has always been that for me. It started before I could even remember. I have memories of coming home from school and watching Oprah with her while I started my homework. I have memories of cereal being thrown in my direction to make me laugh when I was sad. I had a lot of anxiety around most people, but with her, I always felt at ease.
She was always my mother first, but that has developed into a friendship I cherish more than anything.
You know you’re best friends with your mom when:
1. You call her in the car on the way there and back from most places with the kids. She’s the person who cares about all the minutia with your family and is actually interested in the poop talk.
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2. You call her for constructive criticism and advice—she’s your go-to person to run things by.
3. She knows you better than anyone else in this world.
4. She comes over, conversation fills the house. You talk about anything, nothing, and everything all at once.
5. She’s by your side not only for the good moments cheering you on with pride, but holding your hand and letting you use her shoulder to cry on through the bad. She knows when you’re not OK, even if you lie and say you are. Sometimes you need to crack and let it out, and no one’s better to do that with than your best friend and mom.
6. She refuses to give up on you even when you give up on yourself and want everyone else to do the same.
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7. She tells you you’re being a jerk and brings you back off that high horse you had no right to ride on in the first place.
8. She pushes you never to give up—because she believes in you more than anyone.
9. She confides in you too, so it becomes a real friendship beyond parent-child.
10. She’s your forever friend, no matter what.
Friends come and go, but your mom is a constant—and that’s a true best friend.
Previously published on the author’s Facebook page