Every day is a day to celebrate all of the wonderful, strong matriarchs in our families. There is no one better than “mom.” She is the one person who loves you unconditionally and is your number one fan, through thick and thin. If you are a high school student-athlete or a mom and you're reading this then you also inevitably know that this Mothers Day, mom will probably be driving you and perhaps several other teammates to practice, game, or tournament. That goes to show that on a day that should be all about her, she will still unselfishly sacrifices for you.

Without further ado, here's a letter thanking sports moms for all they do for their children:

Dear Mom,

Thank you for being my biggest cheerleader and my number one fan. It's very motivating to hear you on the sidelines screaming, “Go, team!” “Get there!” and my all-time favorite “Kick it!.” To this day, I'm not sure if “Kick it!” means the ball or the opponent. I can always rely on you to chirp the other team or stand up for me to other parents or fans.

Thank you for listening to me endlessly vent during the long car rides home after competing. I know it's probably exasperating to hear the team drama, groaning about playing time or games that should've been won. But you always manage to stay engaged and poised while giving me the best advice no matter what life, or the game, throws at me.

Most importantly, I want to take the time to thank you, on behalf of myself, my teammates and coaches, for always cooking the most amazing food for any and every occasion. You know that your freshly cut orange slices, pasta, and meatballs or gooey brownies are gone within minutes.

I'm sorry that my sport puts me in danger of getting injured. I know that every time I fall, get tackled, or come off of the field, ice or court with a scrape or impressive bruise, you are hoping that I'm not too hurt. I know that my pain is your pain, so thank you for allowing me to purposely use my head to redirect a ball, swing a wooden club as hard as I can, skate on two knives, and be tackled to the ground on a daily basis.

I'm so grateful to have you in my life, and I am more than lucky to have you endure my volatile athletic experiences with me. The countless number of hours spent driving to and from practices and games have allowed us to form this incredible bond that I will always cherish. While you watch me overcome obstacles and gain life skills, I watch you handle every situation with grace (unless the ref makes a bad call) and aspire to be like you. You are the one person who I know is undoubtedly on my side, and continually supports me throughout all of my endeavors. At times I may seem ungrateful, but I want you to know how much your support means to me. It's unbelievable how you give me endless hugs and kisses after games even though I'm drenched in sweat, dirt and maybe a little blood.

One thing college taught me is that not seeing you every day makes me appreciate seeing you in the stands at my games. The feeling of running up to you, Mom, after a win or loss, is so comforting. I love you Sports Mom, you are so important to me, and I'm truly grateful for everything you've done to ensure that I learn all the lessons that sports have to offer.

Love,

Your athletic child

* Originally published on May 8, 2016, by LRT Staff