Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful, strong, amazing, loving women out there. Even though we celebrate all you do today, you deserve to be celebrated throughout the year.

Have you ever wondered what it is that makes a mother?

This is an easy question to answer, especially if you have been blessed with the women that my family has been blessed with in life.

Many people think that a mother is measured by how clean her house is, how many loads of laundry she does, how well she cooks dinner, if she gets everyone to practice on time and much more.

This is without a doubt the wrong way to look at a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt or any other special woman in your life.

A mother is measured by the hugs and kisses she gives, the bruises she heals, the stories she reads, the hands she holds, the teaching she provides, the life lessons she instills and the smiles she brandishes each day.

A mother knows when her child or grandchild is hurting; when their child is sad; when their child needs extra love and care; when their child needs to be held extra tight at night.

A mother is strong.

A mother knows how to handle anything thrown at her in life.

A mother can turn any child’s tears into laughter.

A mother shows a child the wonders of the world.

A mother will put herself last in all situations, even on Mother’s Day.

A mother had children in the first place because she knew she had so much love to give in her life.

What is a mother to you?

This is a mother to me. This is a mother to my children. This is a grandmother to my children. This is a great-grandmother to my children.

Hug the special women in your lives extra tight today. Thank them for giving you an amazing life. Let them know how much they are appreciated, not just today, but each and every day.