mom

she birthed me, c-section and all
she sang to me when I was sad or angry
she held my hair when I was sick
she taught me how to do laundry
she knew how to cure any sickness
she wrote notes on my lunchtime napkins
she always makes my favorite birthday cake,
even if it isn't my birthday
she always made me wear a dress on the first day of school
she bought me a puppy,
and then a cat
and then a fish.
she knows exactly what to say when I am upset,
or when I am happy
she is always so excited when I am excited
she celebrates my accomplishments like they are her own -- in part they are
she always knows how to make me feel beautiful,
even when I don't feel it
she can hug me and the world feels okay
she taught me how to cook,
and how to appreciate fine cooking
she taught me to be kind to everyone
she taught me how to love
she helped me deal with loss, disappointment, frustration
i can't eat scrambled eggs because of her, but I am okay with that
she never gets angry with me,
even though I can be so rude

she puts up with everything I do. I love you for that Mom, and I don't know what I would do without you in my life