Mamma Mia

My entire life, I've been surrounded by strong, independent, beautifully passionate women, most of whom also happen to be mothers. I know what most people would say: 'You are one lucky girl.' And that's true, I am. But personally I don't think luck has as much to do with it as the fact that these special individuals make the conscientious, deliberate decision to live their lives by their own standard.

Growing up though, I never realized how blessed I was to not only know these women but to have them as major influences in my life-never knowing any different, in my naïvety I assumed that all mothers and grandmothers must act the same as mine-protecting their loved ones, putting family second only to God, making countless silent sacrifices, teaching important life lessons not through their words alone but through their everyday actions, and most importantly leaving an unmistakeable imprint on the lives of those around them. Yet with all of these remarkable attributes to choose from, do you know which is my favorite? Their individuality. They are all completely and utterly different in the best ways possible. Having three strong, unique female role models is incredibly inspiring to a young woman such as yours truly as I strive to find myself and become the person I want to be.

Unfortunately I haven't always appreciated how great I have it and my ignorance to my blessings in the mother department definitely reared its ugly head. I distinctly remember being a brat on many occasions over the years from telling my poor mom I hated her over a pair of tights (preschool-I've always been a picky dresser) to snapping at her for accidentally repeating information she'd already mentioned to me (just a few months ago). Honestly-the woman has to keep a family of seven up to date; you'd think I could cut her some slack for not remembering exactly who she told what and when every single time. I recently did the math and realized that except for a nine month period, my mom will have a teenager living under her roof consecutively for a span of 21 years. TWENTY ONE YEARS! That's craziness! The statistic alone is a testament to her patience and tenacity. My little sister recently sent this reply after I mentioned I missed our mom in an email: 'I completely understand missing Mom.  As a matter of fact, I can't imagine missing another person more.  And you know why?  Because no matter what you are talking about she is always interested to listen....I guess that's just another part of the "mom" job.' But it's not her job. It's just who she is.  For that and so many other countless reasons, when, at some point down the road, I wake up one day and think to myself, 'Oh my gosh. I've turned into my mother' I will be nothing but proud.

All in all, I just want to say that the contributions made by my grandma, g-mom, and, most of all, my mom will continue to stay with me as I enter the next phase of my life and, hopefully I will one day pass them onto children of my own. So to all the amazing women in my life, Happy Mother's Day.