When your mom is your best friend (Happy Mother’s Day!)

Today it’s Mother’s Day in America and I want to wish the happiest Mother’s day to all the moms out there.

I know that I’m really lucky. My mom and I have a weird and incredible relationship.

The kind where I’ve always actively wanted to spend time with her. (Maybe not as a bratty 10 year old, but you get the point). Over the years, my mom has become my best friend.

Naturally, I’ve seen her from the beginning. And I’ve also watched her continue to sacrifice herself to make our lives better… even when we didn’t realise it.

I remember when she went back to university. She got her Master’s degree in teaching with two young kids to deal with. At the time, when I resented having to go into school early and stay late, I eventually realised what a massive deal it was for her to be able to go back to work after years of spending her days home with us. Honestly, it’s a miracle she waited that long to do so, because I can’t imagine having to stay home with my brother and me while my dad was at work. Absolutely horrifying.

We saw her flourish in the career that she now continues to work in, teaching the youths (again, not for me, but she’s awesome at it)! And while sometimes, they might drive her crazy, she’s always so proud of who her students end up becoming and genuinely cares about seeing them succeed. I think it was always interesting to see her perspective. Teachers do everything they can for their students.

Even during my teenage years (still can’t believe I’m out of them now, but whatever), we didn’t really clash. We’d go shopping. We’d do lunch. We still do these, obviously.

When I went off to college, I thrived. Leaving my parents behind at the time wasn’t a challenge. I made friends quickly. But there’s definitely something to be said about finally adulting (even if you don’t actually feel like an adult 10 years later). Catch-ups at home were over a glass of Pinot Grigio and a bowl of popcorn. She saw boyfriends come and go and eventually, knew that Joe would be the one.

She flew with me across the ocean to help me move to Edinburgh. And helped Joe and I set up our new flat and making sure I was OK. Leaving must have been hard for her, after all, I wasn’t going back too.

And now? I’m living in London. Still, the ocean separates us, which makes me incredibly sad. But thank god for living in 2017 for technology because Skype is easy and we talk or text nearly every day.

I don’t know where I’d be today without her, but I know that I wouldn’t be the person I am now. And I’m proud of the person she’s become and continues to be.

I only wish that it wouldn’t take quite so long to catch up over a glass of Pinot all the time.

Love you mom!

And a big happy mother’s day to all the moms!

Kelly xoxo