Hey, Mom.

You may not always think so, but you’re beautiful.

There are too many things to list; pages and pages of writing will never be able to capture just how wonderful and beautiful you are.

People often think that you can only be beautiful if you’re skinny and have sculpted cheekbones and long flowing locks, but they’re wrong. You’re not perfect, but your flaws only intensify your beauty. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and your beauty shines through in ways you don’t even understand. Your beauty isn’t as hot and unobtainable as the distant sun that never hesitates to burn; your beauty is a cool breeze on an oppressively hot day. It’s appreciated in a different way and is so incredibly wonderful.

The world needs more people like you. Despite all the imperfections that the media likes to call blemishes, you accept and wear these imperfections with grace. Love is a beautiful thing, and you manifest this beauty in all the ways you love those around you. You work hard for our family, and you care about us more than I’m sure I can imagine. While it doesn’t always seem so, we appreciate all of it, including all you do to keep us positive and happy.

I know I don’t always respond to your sense of humor, but I want you to know that’s not your fault. I can’t tell you how happy I feel when you laugh at my pathetic attempts at jokes. When you laugh, you may not look graceful, but it’s those moments when you’re truly beautiful. Your eyes are bright and crinkled, your smile is big and brilliant, and your laugh is loud and carefree. You always try to be positive, even when it isn’t easy. I can seem ungrateful sometimes, but I want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done or will do for me.

You’re always there for me, and I love sharing how I feel with you because I know you’ll understand. You helped me through the tough, turbulent times in high school and listened to me when I needed someone to talk to. Your heart is bigger and more beautiful than any superficial nonsense the media finds so critically important to a good life.

I love spending time with you because you make me so happy.

The amount of time you spend attending to your physical appearance does not correspond to your true, genuine beauty. You’re beautiful whether you’re dressed up with make-up and your best clothes or walking around in a dressing gown, your hair mussed and dirty. As cheesy as it sounds, your beauty comes through to the outside from within. Whatever the world says about how you should look, I want you to know that your beauty isn’t as superficial as that. It shows itself when you laugh, make silly jokes, listen to others, and when you truly care for those you love.

It’s not always easy. You may have days when you feel awful– days when you may not like what you see in the mirror. I want you to know that no matter how bad you think you look, you’re wrong. You’re beautiful. You don’t need to paint your face with make-up. You don’t need to lose weight. You don’t need to hide how you look because you’re already so lovely. You’re beautiful in different ways. I can’t stress how much I want you to know that. I love who you are, and I couldn’t wish for a better mom than you.

You make me want to be a better person– to be more like you.

I love you so much. You’re already so beautiful, and I hope that you’ll stay that beautiful no matter what.