- Growing up, I got in trouble at school a lot, okay?

I'd always get in my mom's car after school and have to tell her, mom, I got another detention.

Every time, she asked, "What happened?"

And every time, I'd tell her the same thing.

Mom, I didn't do anything, okay?

I'm sure she knew I wasn't always as innocent as I claimed to be, but that didn't matter.

She'd march right into St.

Mark's and address whoever was annoyed with me that day.

Teachers, the principal, the lunch lady got it one day.

Didn't matter.

If somebody had an issue with her son, they were gonna hear from her.

That's my mom, fiercely loyal to her people.

I've always been a mama's boy.

I'm proud of it too.

The last couple of months, my mom has been battling cancer.

(Blake clears throat) I'll spare you the details, but she went through so much.

She fought so hard.

This morning, my mom passed away.

That's a difficult thing to say out loud.

It's even harder to accept.

I've spent so much time lately thinking about everything my mom did for me and my two sisters.

All of the sacrifices she made, the countless times she put our needs ahead of her own.

(gentle music) And no matter how old we got, she never stopped being our mom.

She never stopped worrying about us.

"Text me when you get home."

She never stopped looking out for us.

There are people watching this right now who've lost their moms, people who would give anything for one more conversation, one more hug, one more ordinary day together.

(gentle music) I've always known that kind of heartbreak existed.

I've had friends who've gone through it.

I just never understood what it felt like until now.

There is no preparing for it.

That's just the truth.

If there's one thing I hope you take away, it's this.

Don't wait until you're running out of time to start treating time like it's precious.

If you're lucky enough to still have your mom around, give her a call.

Go see her.

Hit her with a FaceTime.

Write her a letter.

Tell her you love her.

And when she starts telling you the same story you've heard a thousand times, let her finish it.

(gentle music) You're gonna miss hearing it someday.

(gentle music) And if you've already lost your mom, I am so sorry.

(gentle music) My heart goes out to you.

(gentle music) (Blake exhales) Mom, I hope you know how proud I am to be your son, how grateful I am for everything you did for me, Tiffany, and Stephanie, and how unbelievably lucky we are that of all the moms in the world, we got you.

Thank you for loving us unconditionally through every version of ourselves, for making sure we never had to wonder how much we were loved.

(gentle music) Best mom ever.

I love you forever and always.

(gentle music) (no audio)