a birthday wish.

My incredibly inspirational, beautiful, and well-rounded mother of twenty-something years turns another year older today. I recently shared a post about how important it is to develop a healthy and constructive relationship with your mother if it's a possibility- for she is wise beyond your years. I thank God every day for the incredible relationship I have with my family in general, but especially with my mom. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for the motherly love she provided me with day-in and day-out from the moment I was born. She taught me to be the strong woman I am slowly becoming today. Life is a journey- a process- and I'm in the process of figuring out where I fit in this great big world. Life has us by the throat sometimes and doesn't seem to let go until you have melted into a puddle of emotion. I can tell you that if there is one person I can count on to build me back up, it's my mom. Growing up, she would watch me in my early years fall over and begin to cry- she would say to me "Hol, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again." To this day that saying has resonated with me in an immense fashion. From the beginning, mom wanted me to take everything life threw at me and turn it into a positive learning experience, even if the event itself wasn't positive at all. It was all about the recovery; all about having the strength to get back up when something has completely defeated you. My mom has been that strength for me when I didn't believe I could do it myself. My backbone, my voice of reasoning, my inspiration- Happy Birthday to the strongest and most loving mother that God could ever have given me.

the things your mother taught you.

Mother. Mama. Mommy. Mom. Ma! Some of us have healthy, positive and constructive relationships with our mothers, while others don't have that luxury. I choose the word luxury because it is. I have been blessed with a mother that understands me during my good, my bad, and my ugly. It was by some miracle that she survived my hormonal years when I was an absolute nightmare. If looks or words could kill, she'd be long gone. Every year on her birthday, I give her a letter expressing the immense gratitude I have for her and all she's done to "raise me right." I should save this post for September 8th when she turns just one itty-bitty year older (better, Ma?), but I shared a phone call with her last night that reminded me just how immense a role model she's been to me for twenty-something grueling (and wonderful) years. If there is one thing we should take away from our relationships with our mothers it's that whether we would like to believe it or not, they've been where we are. They have been 18, 21, 25, 30, 40, and for some, the big 5-0. They've had experiences that have shaped who they are, how they raised us, and what their plans are for the future. They have also taken away from their own life experiences what kinds of amazing things they want for the kids- words like successful, healthy, and happy all come to mind. Even on the days when mom is driving us up the wall, she more often than not has our best interest in mind. My mom has shared both her most painful and most exciting experiences with me, along with the lessons she's learned from those experiences. Yet she's never pressured me into learning those lessons via her choices. She understands that I have to figure things out for myself. I need to make my own mistakes. I need to grow as a person through my own first hand experiences. Some mothers prefer to press their opinions on you more than you would probably prefer. Some expect you not to make the same mistakes that they did because they've already been there and done that- and wouldn't dare to dream of you making the same choice. At the end of the day we just need to remember what a blessing a caring and supportive mother is. There are days we will love 'em and days we could just knock 'em silly; but it's incredibly important to keep in mind what a priceless life learning tool we have at our fingertips. It takes countless years for girls to reach a level of mutual understanding with their mothers, and some of us may never get there. Certain topics will always remain off limits- and that's ok. Do what you can to take what mom says to heart, even if you feel like rolling your eyes and running in the other direction. She's older and wiser than you, and may know a thing or two that you don't- hard to believe, right!? If life allows for it, most of us have someone we can call "mom". Through the storm clouds and sunny skies, she'll always be there- whether it's in person, on the phone, or just in our hearts. Do something that will move mountains today- call up that beautiful mother of yours and just say thanks. Realistically, if it wasn't for her putting up with your ridiculous antics, you wouldn't be in the place you are today. Plus, the sooner you open your heart and that big trap of yours, the sooner she could share with you something that will guide you through even your darkest days.