Instead of a Mother’s Day gift guide or something of the sort here on our blog, I decided to do an open letter exchange with the most amazing women in my life and share it with you. These letters are personal and I hope they help you recognize the blessings a mother figure in your life has given you, and reflect on how he or she has played a role in the making of the person you’ve become today.

Whether written or spoken, words are so incredibly important. Things can often go unsaid, and I think we should all make an effort to vocalize these things, even if it seems totally random and out of left field. I hope that this post encourages each and every one of you to express your love and the value you see in the people close to you.

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To my mom, Cheryl

There are so many things I’m grateful for in our relationship and having you as a mother.

Looking back on my life, I was incredibly blessed to grow up in a home where my words were heard and I was free to be myself, whoever that may have been. I have you (and Dad) and Angela to thank for that. I was encouraged to try new things, and to be open minded and accepting of others. I was taught to be independent and self sufficient, and that it’s okay to play by myself and do my own thing. I was shown how to be kind to others and the importance of helping those less fortunate, as well as how to ask for what I need too. I was taught to have thick skin, that there’s always room for growth and that it’s never too late to start something new.

Naturally as mother and daughter, you and I are alike in so many ways. I honestly see more of you in myself every day. We’re both fiercely independent, introverted, hardworking, go-getters in life and in the workplace, coordination very seriously, go-with-the-flow and the peacemakers in most situations. We’re even tempered and hard-to-shake, strong women.

As funny as it sounds, you’re my hype queen. You’re the first one to tell me I’m fully capable of doing anything and everything I want to do, and you’re the first person I call if I ever need a pep talk. I exit all of our conversations, even the quick ones, feeling so much more confident in myself and my abilities. You’ve helped me grow into a women that encourages others, walks confidently through life and pursues my passions without fear of failure.

You’re incredibly selfless and giving — more than anyone else I know. You’re sensitive to other’s needs and seem to somehow know what someone is in need of before they even realize it themselves. You show up and perform no matter what the occasion is or how you’re feeling, simply because you feel it’s important to the people around you. You’ll drop anything and everything to be there for someone you love. You’re motivational and encouraging, and always helping others get to where they want or need to be, whether it’s by means of tough love or a confidence boost.

Thank you so much for playing such a huge role in the woman I’ve become. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for always supporting me, showing me the way, encouraging me in everything I do and loving me whole heartedly. You are beautiful, kind, strong, selfless and so loving — I truly couldn’t be more blessed to have you not only as a mom, but as a friend and role model too.

Happy Mother’s Day to the best woman I know! I love you!

To my sister, Angela

I know no life without you in it. In the very beginning of my life, my first day here on this earth I was greeted with many smiling faces one of which was our family and, the other was yours. Even at the age of three you anxiously awaited my arrival and it wouldn’t be long until we became the very best of friends.

I’d like to say that we have a bond that is so unbreakable not even the jaws of steel could pull us apart but isn’t that what all sisters say? Our lives haven’t always been perfect we have had some hard spots in life but I can’t remember a single one that we faced alone.

Any humiliation that mom hadn’t already covered, you were happy to fill in. Y’all were an unparalleled parenting duo.

Thank you for helping raise the chaos that is me. Thank you for always being supportive of everything I do, including the things nobody else could understand. Thank you for being the most stable person in my life, an unwavering certainty in a highly unpredictable world.

Charlie is truly the luckiest baby to have you as a mother. I am so fortunate to watch you both grow into such amazing roles In each other’s lives. You are by far one the best people I know, and honored to call you my big sister.

On your official first Mother’s Day, I want to make sure you know that you are the heartbeat of this family, the glue that connects us all. Because of you, and who you are as a person, everything is just better in our life. Over and over again, I would always choose you to travel this very special journey. It’s you and I til the very end. My sister, beautiful best friend, and wonderful mother to Charlie Boy.

Happy Mamas Day Sissy!

To my Aunts, Ange + Debi

(Mom’s sisters)

To a women who were mamas side kicks —

We all have someone in our lives that impact us in the best possible way, by setting a “good example,” standing up for them no matter what or always being there for you. That’s an Aunt

There are so many reasons to love you both but, thank you for being who you are, always. Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for being the sisters to my mama. For helping her. For supporting her. For supporting me and Ange. For loving our family. I love you more than I could ever express in a few hundred words or a blog post. But I figured this is a small start.

I hope to be the aunt you showed me to be. I look up to being the best version of myself to Charlie the way you were to me.

Always remember that in a world of grey, you are and will forever be a bright ray of sunshine’s. I love you and you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Happy Mother’s Day to you both 💗