This Dream Started When I Was a Little Girl

Okay you guys, get ready bc this is a story that's been brewing in my heart for literally my whole life. Like, since I was a tiny little kid, I just knew. I knew one day I wanted to be able to do something huge for my mom. She's just... she's everything. She raised me and my siblings as a single mom, and honestly, I don't even know how she did it. She worked full-time, always, always, always. She never stopped. And through all of that, she always made sure we had what we needed, even if it meant she went without. That's just who she is.

One of the things that always stuck with me, even as a kid, was that she never had a reliable car. Ever. It was always like, older cars, cars that broke down, cars that needed constant repairs. And I remember thinking, even then, 'My mom deserves better than this.' She deserved a car that was safe, that was comfortable, that she loved. She deserved a car that she didn't have to worry about breaking down on her way to work or picking us up. That thought just lodged itself deep in my heart, and it became this quiet, constant goal for me.

My Mom, My Hero

I feel like I talk about my mom a lot, but honestly, I could talk about her all day every day and it wouldn't be enough. She's just the strongest woman I know. She taught me everything about working hard, about resilience, about loving your kids fiercely. She never complained, even when things were so incredibly tough. She just kept going. And she did it all by herself. There wasn't a husband there to help with the bills, to help with the car repairs, to help with the emotional load of raising three kids. It was all her. And she did it with grace and strength that still blows my mind.

So, as I got older and started to, like, actually build a life for myself and for my family, that little girl's dream of taking care of my mom never went away. It just grew stronger. I always wanted to be able to give back to her, to show her how much her sacrifices meant, how much I appreciate everything she did. And since she doesn't have a husband to do it, I wanted to be the one. I wanted to be the one to make her feel seen, appreciated, and cherished in a way she always deserved but never really got.

The Sneaky Plan with Tanner

Okay, so this is where Tanner comes in, my amazing hype man and partner in all things crazy and wonderful. I told him about this dream years ago, and he was immediately on board. He gets it. He knows how much my mom means to me, and he's always been so supportive of my desire to take care of her. He's just the best, honestly. I couldn't imagine doing any of this without him.

So, for the past year, we've been on a secret mission. A very, very sneaky mission. We wanted to figure out what her dream car was. Not just a reliable car, but like, THE car. The one she'd pick if money was no object. This was actually harder than you'd think, bc my mom is so humble and practical. She'd never just come out and say, 'Oh, I want this fancy car!' She'd always say, 'Oh, anything reliable is fine!' But we wanted more than fine for her. We wanted perfect.

So we started asking questions, super casually. Like, 'Hey mom, if you could have any car in the world, what would it be?' And she'd always deflect, hahah. But we kept at it. We'd point out cars on the road, 'Oh, what do you think of that one?' 'Do you like the color of that?' We were like secret agents, gathering intel. It was actually pretty fun, but also so hard to keep a straight face sometimes bc I was so excited thinking about the surprise.

We finally pieced it together. We figured out the make, the model, even the color she'd love. It took a lot of subtle hints and a little bit of reading between the lines, but we got there. And when we finally knew, it was like this huge weight lifted, but also this burst of pure excitement. We found it. We found her dream car.

The Build-Up and the Big Day

Once we knew what we were looking for, the search began. Tanner was so good at helping me navigate all the car stuff, bc ngl, I'm not the most car-savvy person, hahah. We wanted to make sure it was perfect, that it had all the little things she'd appreciate. It took a bit of time, but we finally found the one. And let me tell you, it was so hard to keep this secret. Every time I talked to her, I just wanted to spill the beans. My heart was just bursting with it.

The day we picked it up, I was a mess. Like, happy tears already flowing. I just kept thinking about her face, about how much this would mean to her. I imagined her driving it, feeling safe and comfortable and just... loved. That's all I ever wanted for her. Just to feel how much she's loved and how much she deserves all the good things in life.

We had to figure out how to surprise her without her suspecting anything. That's the tricky part with surprises, right? You want it to be a total shock, but also make sure they're in the right place at the right time. We came up with a plan that involved a little bit of a decoy, a little bit of misdirection, and a whole lot of anticipation.

The Reaction I've Dreamed Of

I'm still emotional just thinking about it. When she finally saw it... you guys. It was everything I ever hoped for and more. Her face just lit up. She was so shocked, so overwhelmed, so happy. It's that kind of pure, unfiltered joy that just makes your heart ache in the best way possible. I couldn't stop hugging her. Tanner was there, of course, being my rock and hyping her up. The girls were there too, even if Cherry didn't quite understand what was happening, hahah. Stella and Ozzy were so excited for Grandma.

Watching her get into that car, seeing her touch the steering wheel, looking at all the features... it was just heaven on earth fr. She deserves every single bit of this. Every sacrifice she made, every late night, every worry she carried – it all led to this moment. And to be able to give her even a tiny fraction of the joy she's given me my whole life? There's no feeling like it. It's truly the most rewarding thing I've ever done.

This isn't just about a car, you know? It's about showing up for the people who showed up for you. It's about remembering your roots and honoring the people who shaped you. It's about making those childhood dreams come true, not just for yourself, but for the ones you love most. I'm just so grateful, so incredibly grateful, that I get to do this. My mom is my hero, and I love her sm :,).

What This Means to Me

This whole experience has just reinforced for me how important family is. Like, truly. Everything I do, everything Tanner and I work for, it's for our girls, for our future, but also to be able to take care of the people who took care of us. My mom taught me that love is action, and I hope this shows her just how much I love her.

Ngl, it was a lot of hard work to get to a place where I could do something like this. But every single late night, every early morning, every moment of doubt – it all felt worth it in that moment when I saw her face. It truly did. If you have a dream like this for someone you love, don't give up on it. Keep it in your heart, work towards it, and one day, you might just make it happen. And let me tell you, the feeling is absolutely priceless.

I'm still riding high on this emotion. My heart is so full. I just love my mom. And I love that I get to share these moments with you guys. Thank you for always being here and celebrating these big life moments with me. It means the world. ❤