For the Mamas

I'm sure it's a bit cliche to do a post about my mom on Mother's Day, but if anyone deserves a little tribute, it's her. My mom has been more like a best friend than a mom for most of my life. She gave me all of the guidance and support that I needed as I was growing up, but I knew that I could come to her like a friend if I needed anything. And she has put up with A LOT.

She spent countless hours in the car with me, driving me back and forth from dance classes (which where over an hour away) several nights a week for years. AND she let me listen to whatever music I wanted, which for a very long time consisted of No Doubt, Alanis Morrisette, The Presidents of the United States of America (anyone?), Bush, and then later, NSYNC. Always NSYNC. I'm not sure I could do that for my children.

She also let me cry (and when I say cry, I mean cry) on her shoulder more times than I can count. She talked me through depression, heartbreak, anger, stress, and trying to find my way through life. She encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant moving all the way to Los Angeles at the age of 20. She encouraged me to develop a closer relationship with God, even when I was bitter and fought it with everything in me. She is the person I can go to when I'm having an issue. Any issue. And she will stay on the phone with me as long as I need, even when I'm sure she has a million other things she could be doing.

I wish more than anything that she lived closer to me. She's only about four hours away, but that's just too far. I would love it if she were close enough to go grab lunch with, go to the movies, go shopping, all of the things we did when I was younger that I took for granted.

If I can be even half as caring and wonderful and patient and helpful as she has always been for me, my children will be lucky little babies. I've been a very blessed woman to have such a wonderful influence on my life for more than 27 years. Basically, I feel like the luckiest girl alive to have the mother that I do. And I hope she knows how much she means to me.

I can't talk about my mom without mentioning her mother, my wonderful Grandmother. She's the cutest, funniest, sweetest little lady, and I adore her. She's got a lot of spunk for a woman in her eighties, and she looks great. I hope I got her genes :)

And last but not least, Arsen's mom Gina. I have to honor someone who raised such a great man. He is a mama's boy if I've ever seen one, and for good reason. She thinks he is just the best thing in the world. It's really cute to watch them together. I will always be thankful to her for raising such a thoughtful, kind-hearted, and caring man.

So all in all, I am a lucky, lucky lady. I have been blessed to have the influence of all three of these amazing women in my life, and I am a better woman for it. And to all you moms out there, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

 *Linking up with Finding Beauty in the Ordinary*