Mommy,

Another Mother’s Day has arrived. I can’t believe it! I don’t know how it’s possible to ever thank your mother for everything she’s done for you in one little day and I won’t try to say that I’m capable (or any good) at it but I’m going to try! I hope today is full of little moments that make you smile and serve as a reminder to you from us – that we are so very honored to call you our mother.

Moms have the toughest job on the planet, I think. They’re the ones who deal with the highs and lows of each child’s lives, while also trying to navigate being a woman, a wife, a teacher, a career woman – everything and anything you can imagine – and they get the least thanks. Not because we don’t want to thank them but because we forget to. So mommy, I want to take today to say it: THANK YOU. I would not be where I am – any of it – without you.

I know without a doubt, I got the best mother on the planet. I was lucky enough to have a mother who always supported and never doubted both my sister and I throughout our lives. She’s always been our number one fan – taking us to practices, rehearsals, showing up for every concert and recital. She’s spent countless hours volunteering for our bands, orchestras, dance recitals – taking jobs that supported what we did without ever being able to see us actually perform just to make sure the show went smoothly. My mother put up with every painful decision I was forced to make for the wedding (and by painful, I mean I’m an AWFUL decision maker), she helped decorate the new house, went with us throughout that long process, has helped me learn to organize my own home, all while being an active Girl Scout leader, family caretaker, traveler with my father, dog owner and college mom. She’s constantly putting others in front of herself to serve them and make sure their lives are easier. My mother is such an example of the woman I hope to be in a matter of years and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I know we’ve had our ups and downs over the 24 years we’ve been together on this earth. I know you’ve probably wanted to put my in my room and let me stay there until my eye balls stopped rolling into the back of my head but I appreciate you not doing that and instead being patient, loving and supportive while the teenage years got behind us. Although, I know I wasn’t super helpful in college either, I will never forget calling you my first day of senior year and telling you I couldn’t finish the plan I’d set out in high school and all you could say was: “Go for it. I knew this was going to happen and it’s OKAY.” It was probably one of the few times you said “I told you so” without my eyes rolling into my head, but I had never been more relieved. Having your support on that day – and so many others – means the world to me.

Ryan and I love you so much. Megan and I love you so much. TOC, Grey Cat and Shelby all love you too! We are the most blessed individuals to have you to call our own. I hope you know that we mean that today but also every other day of the year. Thank you for showing us how to be the women that we are, for encouraging our livelihoods and our choices, for letting us make mistakes and to be there to clean up the pieces, for holding our hands but also knowing when to let go. Thank you for cleaning up all the skinned knees, sewing all the ballet shoes and still finding time to read, learn and laugh with us. Thank you for taking us to meet Mickey Mouse, for packing my lunches, and for helping me get through college financially. Thank you for pushing me to be my best – not pushing me to live a life of perfection, for knowing what I needed to hear before I knew what I wanted and for all the little moments in between the big ones you were there for. I can’t wait to see where we will get to go together over the next few years, always knowing that no matter where it is, you’ll be with us every step of the way.

Photo credit: Hope Taylor Photography

Thank you for doing such a thankless job and making it look easy. You’re the best mom and we love you to the moon and back. Happy Mother’s Day!

XOXO,

Kristina