Taylor Swift is one of my favorite new singers. I recently bought her new CD, Fearless, and she wrote one of the songs on the CD for her mom, titled The Best Day. It’s a sweet, touching song. There are no overblown declarations of love and affection and gratitude, and I think that’s what makes it all the more touching.

The problem is, I really need to stop listening to it. And watching the video. I’m moving out of the state in a matter of mere days, and honestly, the hardest part is leaving my mom. I’ve lived on my own for almost six years, but I typically get to see my mom about once a week. And now I’ll still see her fairly often, but it’s just different. I’m so, so excited to be going and frankly can’t wait for the move to be over with, but I’ve cried multiple times every day, usually when I start thinking about my mom. I wouldn’t have thought that, at almost 25, I’d have such a hard time moving away from my mom. I don’t have that “best friend” relationship with my mom that some girls have, and frankly, those “best friend” mother-daughters annoy the crap out of me. Your mom is your mom. I don’t want my mom to be my best friend, I want her to be my mother. Maybe it works for some people, I don’t know, but I just don’t think parents should strive to be their children’s friends. And my mom has always been a great mom. Of course I’ll miss a lot of people — my dad, my sister, my friends. But I think I’m going to miss her more than anyone else. I’m going off and living my life, which is good, but I hate leaving the people I love behind. It’s a lot harder than I anticipated, and especially knowing that it is making my mom cry to see me go.

So every time I see this video or hear this song, it’s been making me cry. A smart person would stop watching or listening. I guess I’m an emotional cutter or something. I have to soak in my misery. And because I love you all so much, I’m sharing this with you. Below is Taylor Swift’s video, made entirely from family home videos, for her song The Best Day, with the lyrics below. Enjoy.

I’m five years old and it’s getting cold
I’ve got my big coat on
I hear your laugh and look up smiling at you
I run and run
Past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides
Look now the sky is gold
I hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

Now I know why all the trees change in the fall
I know you were on my side even when I was wrong
And I love you for giving me your eyes
Staying back and watching me shine and I didn’t know if you knew
So I’m taking this chance to say that I had the best day with you today