To all mothers everywhere, I hope you were spoiled today by those who love you.  I am not a mother, just a puppy-momma, but I love my little girl more than anything.  I also know that being a puppy-momma is hard work, so I can imagine that motherhood is both the most rewarding and the most difficult thing any woman ever does.

I’d just like to raise my glass and my heart to my own mother for giving me life, instilling values and morals, a love for reading and writing and education, travel, strength and finding the positive in life.  I am not half the woman my mother is ~ she inspires me every day.  And I would also like to say thank you to my ‘other’ mother-my aunt- who has been my friend and an ‘other’ mother when I needed one.

Sometimes, as children, we are unaware that our parents are people, who have interests and quirks and passions and sadness outside of being a parent.  We only know them as our parents, the people who make us eat veggies, and go to bed on time.  But also our idol, infallible; a superhero.  I’d like to believe that I see that part of my mother entwined with the woman I got to know as I grew up.  But I also think that my mother the person is one of the most amazing, thoughtful, good-spirited, articulate, educated, compassionate, talented, beautiful people I have ever encountered, and anyone who has had a chance to know her is better for it.  She is absolutely my real hero.