My mom is exactly TWICE my age (for now)

My mother turned 50 this year, which I'd say is noteworthy. She has been a genuinely great mom all these years. Although I don't think she necessarily tried to protect me from all my own bad decisions since I was a teenager, she has always given me a safe environment to come home to. And not trying to protect me from everything in life ultimately has made me into the person I am now, which I am grateful for. She never put her adult problems onto me as a child, or made me feel like we were in some sort of unstable situation, which in reality we probably were sometimes.

As an adult when I have come to her frustrated about something she may have done or not done for me when I was younger, she has had the humility and self-awareness to say "I'm sorry. I know how that must have affected you." That is significant because I know many parents who don't have the ability to just say they are sorry without dishing out excuses for their behaviors.

She taught me to really value family relationships and also the importance of friendships. She taught me how to maintain and appreciate a clean house! She showed me how fun it can be to give and that it is okay to be confident in who you are. She has also been endlessly supportive of my life choices, even when they don't match up with hers. I don't think that has always been easy for her, but that just shows her willingness and desire to understand and support those around her.

Let's just all cross our fingers that I can look as good as her at 50.