When I was born, you were the first to hold me,
love me
smile at me.

You changed the diapers
put up with the tantrums,
washed and folded my laundry.

When friends came over,
you made dinner
and bought ice cream especially for the occasion.

You held a job and went to college
all at the same time.
You made house payments,
school loan payments,
car payments,
swim fee payments,
book fair payments.

You never once told me I would fail
or that I wasn’t good enough.

To me, you were a God,
beautiful and powerful
smart, funny, kind.

You knew everything there was to know,
and everyone in the entire world.
You were the best cook, the best reader, the best at cribbage and cards.
You let me cheat at Jenga.
You spanked my butt when I sassed back,
but you never yelled or hurt me.

Today, you still do all of those things for me,
And still, I think you are the best
the most beautiful and strong.
Still, I respect you for what you accomplished,
and write school essays about how you are my hero.

You come to soccer games and concerts,
You drive me here and there and everywhere.
You wish me luck on tests and good morning every day.
You make me clean my room and hang out with friends.

Someday soon,
it’ll be time for me to leave.
Off to new things and schools.

But I’m not worried,
not at all,
because where ever I go,
You will still be here,
waiting for me, writing to me, wishing for me.

The day I was born,
you were the first to say,
“I love you.”
Today, let me be the first to say,
“Thank you, mom, for everything.”
Oh, and by the way,
“I love you.”