Free Churro

In an odd coincidence, I watched the “Free Churro” episode of BoJack Horseman—the one where he delivers a eulogy at his mother’s funeral—on the same day as my mother’s birthday.

My mother, of course, is nothing like BoJack’s: my mother is kind, compassionate. She always showed me immense love and care, and taught me how to be an empathetic, caring, and loving person. We joke often that I may look identical to my father, but I am my mother’s son, through and through.

My mother made me the man I am now, and I am immensely thankful to her, today on her birthday and every day, for always being a shining example of what it means to be a good person and to care for others with reckless abandon.

As I watched “Free Churro” and saw BoJack grapple with the need to be seen and to feel like he matters, I think about how my mom, to this day, makes me feel seen, makes me feel loved, and reminds me that I matter, even on my darkest days. I am lucky and blessed to have a mother who shows me, every single day even now that I am a grown man, that she is so glad to have me as a son.

“Free Churro” reminded me that not everyone is so lucky, that not everyone has a mother like mine. Tonight, I go to bed incredibly grateful for my mom, for all she has given me and all that she is.

I may celebrate her today because it is her birthday, but she deserves celebration every day of the year for being the wonderful mother that she is.