Just last week, on a particularly crummy day when I was struggling to understand my role as a stepmom, my Mom reminded me that being a parent is extremely challenging and all too often, thankless.

For years throughout our childhood, and particularly during the teenage years, we take and take and take from our Moms (and our Dads too), without realizing the hundreds of small sacrifices they are making for us.

Fortunately, it is when we become adults (and sometimes parents ourselves) that we can finally begin to understand and appreciate everything our parents have done for us.  And on days like today – Mother’s Day – I often try to express just how much I love and appreciate my own Mom – although really there are no words that can perfect explain it.

For the last 35 years my Mom has loved me hard.  She’s laughed with me, scolded me, cuddled me, cried for me, worried about me, gave advice to me, and just been there for me every step of the way.  She’s been the best role model, the best source of support, and now, I am so lucky to say, she’s my best friend.

My mom knows me like no one else.  She knows when I need her (like the time when I was having a particularly bad day and she showed up at my house out of the blue to have a girls day).  She knows when I need a hug, when I need a shoulder to cry on, or when I’m better off to figure things out on my own.

Through all the stages, my Mom has been my biggest cheerleader.  She’s made sure I’ve had every opportunity in life and I am sure she often put her own desires aside to make sure I could have mine (like all those years she hurried home from work to make sure she could get me to dance class on time.  Oh, how I loved those dance classes!) I never lacked for anything and I still don’t.  When life gets tough, Mom’s wise enough to let me struggle but when I really need her, she’s there in a heartbeat to help however she can.

I like to think I was a pretty “easy” teenager.  I always called to let my parents know where I was and who I was with.  I stayed out of trouble and tried hard in school.  But I know there were moments where I took my parents’ for granted.  Where I screamed “I hate you” when they wouldn’t allow me to do sometthing and slammed my bedroom door as hard as I could.  Oh, if only I had known then what I know now…

Now I know that I have the best Mom EVER (and Dad too, but in celebration of Mother’s Day we’ll just stick with Mom for now).  Now I know that I can never say thank you enough for the countless times that she’s put me first, for making me believe in myself and in the idea that I can do anything, and for loving me so hard.  Now I know that although my life has been blessed with so many wonderful friends, none of them will be a true friend like my Mom.  She “gets” me like no one else ever will and I am so proud to be just like her.

I’m not sure if other women love spending time with their Mom as much as I do but no matter the occasion, I absolutely love having my Mom with me throughout all of life’s experiences.  One of my favourite things to do with her is to go on little mini-holidays together.  For instance, I was thrilled to have her join my girlfriends and I on our trip to Toronto for my bachelorette party. My Mom was such a good sport and it meant everything to me to have her there.  A few years ago, we took a weekend trip together to Bracebridge to visit my old university roommate.  One of the best parts of that weekend was the car trip together – just talking about everything under the sun and having many laughs and silly moments along the way.  Other times, when Mom makes the trip up to Timmins to see me, we enjoy a lovely day of shopping and lunch, and just spending quality time.  Any time spent with my Mom is always so good for my soul.  She’s the best kind of company.  In fact, I always say that I am one of those people who could live right next door to my Mom and be perfectly happy for the rest of my life and it’s true (Although not sure what my husband would think of that…. )

I could go on forever about all of the things that make my Mom so amazing but as I mentioned earlier, no amount of words can precisely explain just how deeply I love her.  Mom, you are everything to me and I can never thank you enough for being the best Mom and the best friend a girl could ever ask for.  Happy Mother’s Day!  I love you.

 

Just a few of my favourites…..