Mother’s are some of the most valuable people we could ever have in our lives. They are our biggest cheerleaders, our toughest critics, and our most honest confidants. No matter what life throws our way, mother’s are a strong, resilient, and constant force that drive us to improve, and there are never enough words to express how we will always be forever grateful for the infinite love and support they shower us with.

This Mother’s Day, I wanted to write a little post about how much my mom means to me. Like most mother/daughter combinations, my mom is my forever best friend. She’s the person who is always ready to be my breakfast date, to go on a spontaneous adventure, to make light of the lows and celebrate the highs and the person who (sorry) gets stuck with hearing all my complaints. Most of all, her love for seeing me achieve my dreams is something that is so important to me. Her heart is enormous, and sometimes when I think she couldn’t possibly fit anything else into it, she surprises me and opens it even wider. It’s amazing how incredible she is, especially with all that she’s been through. Between her own personal struggles and the hardships the came with losing my dad, it is always inspiring to me that she constantly wakes up with a smile on her face. It’s a trait in her that I’ve adapted on my own personal journey, and I try to emulate her zest for life every single day.

Growing up as an only child in a super close knit family, saying “I love you” every time I left the house or hung up the phone was something we never took for granted, and I find it just comes naturally now. It has always been a priority of mine to make sure that at the end of the day, despite any argument, I tell my mom I love her. It’s something that’s been instilled in me for so many years, and I catch myself needing that “I love you” whenever I’m close with someone – not only to my mom, but to Kevin, too.

My mom is a big believer in appreciating what you have – which includes all the amazing people you surround yourself – so I often ask myself if I’m doing everything I can to show the people around me how much they mean in my world. Honestly, I may be biased, but if there’s one person in this world that deserves everything life has to offer, it’s my mom. What makes my mom happy is making others happy. I look at her as a whole new person now that I’ve grown up and started my own life and business. The little things in life make her glow with this hypnotic and vibrant radiance, and it’s such magnetic feeling. Suddenly, you’re appreciating the little things, too! Her electric love for the tiny details is something I’ve adopted as my own philosophy too, so you have my mom to thank for my insane attention to detail!

One thing I absolutely adore about my mom is that she always remembers the tiniest things and punctuates them with something unique special. On the fifth anniversary of my life as a wedding photographer, she surprised me with a card that said “high five” and a succulent (which, as you all know, is one of my favorite things). She’s literally always my number one fan, and is constantly reminding me how proud my dad would be of me, and that means the world.

When I first started my business, I knew I wanted to do something different, so I started branding my packages with handwritten notes, gorgeous boho-style elements, and wooden USB drives, just to set me apart and give my style a little flair. My mom, being the creative and dedicated person that she is, decided to hand-sew some envelopes for me to send out during my final deliveries. They quickly became my favorite things EVER! My clients would even tell me how perfect and sentimental they were, and I knew I had to make them a staple in my packaging!

Things like this are why my mom is so special to me. She has the ability to elevate my ideas and collaborate with me in the same way I could with a friend or professional. Her crafty abilities definitely have their perks, and I always know I can come to her if I’m stuck or need a second opinion. I trust that she will always be honest with me and will always brainstorm ways to make things better or more buttoned up. And honestly, she is totally my twin flame. I know for certain that we were put together to thrive off one another, and I couldn’t ask for someone better to do life with.

When my dad passed away, my relationship with my mom changed so much, but I watched as we grew stronger as the days (and years) went on. If it wasn’t for her, I don’t know how I would have made it through, but she was always there, standing on the sidelines, encouraging me and telling me I could achieve anything. Looking back at the past eight years, when our family changed from a family of three to a family of two, I realized just how important she is to me; I admire her strengths, accept any of her weaknesses, and appreciate her way of staying strong – and vice versa. Everything she has taught me, and all the love that she has shown me, is something I can only hope to one day give to a daughter of my own – who will hopefully share the same special bond that her and I have together, too.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms out there, and to all the women who champion other women to blossom into the best version of themselves. For every second you share your magic, we are sowing the seeds to grow stronger and better – together.

AND…

As a thank you to all the mom’s put there, don’t forget to enter my giveaway by commenting on my Facebook status and tagging that special mom in your life! You could even tell me why you love her so much (because I love hearing about the incredible people you surround yourself with!). A winner will be chosen at random to win this beautiful, hand-drawn print (plus a few other special surprises as well):

 

 

XO KAITLYN