There are many things in my life that are important to me, but one of the things that I value the most is my mother.

Who are we without our mothers? In literal terms, nothing. 

Without our mothers, we would never be born, which is a pretty big deal since you would not be on the face of the earth. Your mother had to go through about nine months of pain with you inside of her, but the hard times did not stop there.  She has to get you out, and after watching the “birthing video” in heath class, you see the amount of pain your mother went through.

You do not completely realize the reality of the pain and struggle your mother went through to have you, until you have a baby yourself. After watching the video, I am forever grateful for what my mother has gone through and it’s amazing to think that she has done it three times!  (I don’t understand how the moms can do that!) After nine months of having you inside her, and the pain of pushing you out, she still has to deal with you growing up, which take more patience and kindness that you could ever imagine. 

Having kids is going to be a struggle, every parent goes into it knowing that. So, even after knowing what she is going to have to go through for the next eighteen years (probably more), she still has you, and you really need to make her aware that you are thankful. 

More than anything, your mother wants to feel appreciated. Everything she does is primarily for her children, even when it means putting them above all else, including herself. This is why it is nice to show her how much you appreciate her.  On a daily basis, she is doing something with you in mind, and you need to make sure to thank her for that. Once a year is not enough; it is just when you have the excuse to appreciate her the most. 

Children take their mothers for granted, myself included. We do not mean to, but we do. We want more than we should, and our mothers want us to have everything we want, even if it is hard to get it to us. Now a teenager, I am more aware of the value of money, and that you actually have to pay for things, and the things you want are not cheap in the slightest. 

I cannot support myself financially, therefore my parents have to do that. My parents are divorced and my brother and sister and I all live with our mother the majority of the time. So, if I have a school  field trip or something like that, my mom is the one who has to pay the extra expense since I am at her house when I get the permission slip.  She is also the one who buys the majority of my food, which costs a whole lot when you have three growing teens living in your home. 

You don’t think about how much things cost until you are the one paying for them yourself, and being a single mom, owning a business, most definitely costs a whole lot of money. Now that I am getting older, my mom makes me pay for the things that I want, but don’t necessarily need. 

Everything she does is for her children, so what day is better to show how much you love and appreciate all that she does for you than Mother’s Day? 

When you are trying to think of something to give to your mother this Mother’s Day, you do not have to think huge, elaborate and expensive; it truly is the thought that counts. Just because you buy your mother an expensive gift, that does not mean that she will love it more than a homemade gift that you have made on your own.

One gift that my mother always loved getting from us were homemade coupons.  They would say things like, “I will water the flowers” or “A 20 minute back massage” and she loved them! They did not take a lot of work on our behalf, but they made her happy because we made them things that we knew she would enjoy. 

All girls love flowers, so why not get her a lovely bouquet of flowers that she can put on display as a symbol of your gratitude and love for her. She does not get flowers on a daily basis, so getting them from you would mean a lot to her. 

On Mother’s Day, a card is a must. I personally believe that a homemade card is much more valuable than a store bought one. It has more personality. You do not have to write a huge, elaborate speech in it, but a little something about how great your mother is will mean a lot to her.

It’s the little things that she wants. Like, actually doing your chores, picking up around the house, not leaving a mess when you get up, not fighting with your siblings, easy things like that. She has done so much for you, and she does not want much in return; she just wants to know that everything she has taught you is sinking in and you are becoming a person that everyone will love to be around. 

My mother is someone I know I can always turn to, no matter what. If I am having a tough time, I know that she is there to help me get through it. If I am stressed about homework, she is there trying to help me, even though she usually has no clue what it is that I am doing, she still makes the effort and wants to help. 

This article is a tribute to all mothers to thank them for all they do for their children. Even in tough times, mothers are the ones who get their child through it and it appears to be effortless. Your mother is one of the few people in your life you can always count on to be there for you through thick and thin, so thanks to all moms, especially mine. Thank you mommy! I love you!