Most of you already know how absolutely, incredible my parents are; with mom using Facebook to comment on how beautiful my friends are on every single photo (no seriously it isn’t normal) and with dad owning every single dad’s weekend, rapping to his favorite song “Gold Digger” by Kanye West…I guess they are pretty cool? (or obnoxious depending on how you look at it). Regardless of their more…redeeming (?) qualities, what made me finally, truly appreciate everything they do for me was getting diagnosed with cancer.

Although my dad travels every weekday, he still manages to make time to hang out with me every time he is home. Whether it be heeding to my every steroid-induced craving, bringing me random food, or spending time in the hospital (even though it was clear he was uncomfortable) it is obvious that my dad is one of a kind. He holds a special space in his heart for every single member of this family. Just to brag a little bit, when he is home on the weekends he makes an effort to spend memorable time with every single person in the family, regardless of how tired he is. Honestly, I look forward to these moments every single week because they are what I am going to remember about my dad for the rest of my life….and you know what? I think that is pretty special. My dad would do anything for me and even if he is travelling, I know he would drop everything just to make sure each person in my family is okay.

Additionally (since it is Mother’s Day), my mother plays just as significant of a role in my life. She has been there every time I have stood at my lowest, when I was the sickest I had ever been, when all I needed was a hug, and every time I needed someone to tell me everything was going to be alright. We may fight now that I am feeling better AND NEED TO MOVE OUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, but I will never forget how much her being with me constantly during treatment, and honestly my entire life, has contributed to my survival.

Everyone my mom and I have come across has agreed that we have the exact same personalities as each other, even though we do not look related. However, the way I describe my mom to other people is that we are the same person except she is a lot nicer. Mom makes friends with damn near EVERYONE: the parking attendant at the hospital, any receptionist anywhere, strangers she meets during vacation, etc. THIS IS NOT A JOKE. Seriously, if my mom starts talking to you not only will you get stuck hearing her life story for an hour or more, but you will also gain a loyal friend. The top three words I would use to describe my mother are kind, beautiful, and irritating (still love you mom!). I know it’s cliché to say, but my mom is the type of person I want to be when I am older. I have never met anyone else with the strength she has and the affection she shows to EVERYONE she meets.

Whether you are lucky enough to have your mother in your life today or you are celebrating the memory of her or if you consider someone else your mother figure, I hope everyone today can look at their mom the way I can and see the endearing, and beautiful qualities that make her the only person you could ever imagine calling mom. Me? I have countless second moms out there in the world, but the one that is most special to me is the one that brought me into this world, the one sitting next to me with tangled hair, wearing glasses, and shoving her face with burnt toast. Without my mom, this whole cancer journey would have been a hell of a lot harder, I mean shit man. This is a PSA telling everyone to take the time and make sure to celebrate your mom today and everyday (and probably your dad too because he has/had to put up with her).

To my parents from the BEST gift they have ever received,

Your Daughter