I’ve come to the realization that my two-year old son is technically my best friend. No offense to my “big girl” best friends, I still love all of you, but for blog purposes, let’s just explore my title a bit further.

As a work at home mom, I spend more time with my son than any I do any other person on this Earth. That said, we are together through the ups and downs of every single day. That’s something I haven’t even experienced with my very best friends. We always had time when we were separated in the physical sense, it was never 100% interaction all the time.

Here’s my top 10 reasons why my two-year old is my best friend.

1. Best friends should be people you want to spend time with, people you genuinely love, adore, and respect. Obviously, I feel that for my son, and he feels that for me in return. Even when he makes me so mad I want to scream, I still love him and forgive him in an instant. He already knows how to use his eyes and his cute little grin to make me smile, so God help all the ladies that will come into his life someday. They are in for it.

2. We have fun together. Even though 28 years is a pretty big gap for any relationship, it doesn’t seem to matter with us. I love to dance, he loves to dance. We have dance parties in the living room all the time. We build blocks together, we read, we laugh at silly commercials. (What about the animals, what would the animals be made of? Ahh, I’m assuming candy…)

3. He comforts me, and also puts me in my place. If I’m having a rough day, he can sense it, and he will come over and give me a hug or pat me on the back. Even though he’s not saying too much yet, he talks, in his own way, and it makes me feel better. He also shows me his frustration if I am ignoring him to do work, or not reading the book for the 50th time correctly. We all need those friends who can be there for us when we need them, but also on the other hand, let us know when we need to shape up!

4. He listens to me. Even though he can’t reciprocate, I often talk things out with him. Just doing that and watching his little expressions, help. Whether it be the day’s agenda, or a creative work-related question, he somehow gives me the answers by letting me figure them out for myself. A quality we all wish we had. In the “big people” world, we just give our friends our opinions and expect them to agree. We need to learn to listen and to let them figure it out.

5. He teaches me things. It doesn’t matter that he’s 2, he’s much smarter than me in some aspects, mainly when it comes to people. If there’s an elderly woman or man in the store looking his way, he automatically waves or says hi. He appreciates people, is kind, he smiles. He also takes the time to savor the little things, the last bite of cookie, or the flower in the yard. He takes nothing for granted, and reminds me every day to act that way, as well.

6. He surprises me. Sometimes I can’t believe how he figures things out, or how fast he picks up a new habit. I love watching the changes in him and I’m continually amazed that there’s always something new he’s learning.

7. He makes me laugh. He really makes me laugh. He will fall over on purpose and laugh at himself to make me smile, or pretend to be putting on hairspray when mommy does. He’s funny because kids still have that fearlessness. They don’t care what people think or who is watching, they just do what they do.

8. He believes in me. I don’t really know how I know this, but I just do. Maybe it’s the way he looks at me when I’m doing a workout, or the way he claps after I sing a song. I feel like he’s proud of me and telling me he loves me. I ask him all the time if he’s happy that mommy is home with him and the look in his eyes tells me, yes.

9. We have a lot in common. I like the Disney shows we watch together, and he even likes the Days of our Lives theme song. We enjoy lazy mornings together. I drink my coffee and go through emails, as he enjoys his breakfast and sits on my lap. And we are both excited and happy when Daddy comes home for lunch. We are more in sync than I’ve been with anyone in my life.

10. He makes me a better person. He does that by all the reasons I’ve just mentioned, and for showing me what unconditional love should be.

Your best friend should be someone you love, have fun with, comforts you, listens, teaches you, surprises you, makes you laugh, believes in you, has common interests, and most importantly, makes you a better person. So thank you to my son, my best friend in the whole wide world. I love you more than anything.