Today is Mother’ Day and in all honesty, I have no idea how to put into words what my mom means to me. But, I’m going to try….

My mom is selfless. EVERYONE comes before her. Her children, her husband, her friends, her siblings, her parents, her students, her co-workers… she puts every single person in her life before anything she needs.  I seriously have no recollection of a time my mom ever said “I’m going to take a day for just me”.  Never. Oh, you need your grass cut? She’s there. Oh, you need food for a party your having? Consider it cooked. Oh, you need  a ride to an appointment? Hop in.  She is ALWAYS there.  The amount of tasks she crams into a 24 hour day will forever leave me puzzled.

My mom is inspirational. For those of you that don’t know my mom, she is a special needs teacher (recently turned Autism specialist). Being a special needs teacher is ALL my mom ever wanted to be.   I’ve met a few parents of the children my mom taught.  I firmly believe after talking to them, my mom has changed their life for the better.  I can only dream one day I can change the life of ONE person the way my mom has changed all the lives of her students.  Even the ones that couldn’t speak had a light in their eye when my mom was around.  I will forever be in awe of my mother. She would teach a very hectic, physically challenging, emotionally draining classroom all day… then come home to us… and We. Are. Crazy. Some how, some way, there was ALWAYS a home cooked meal on the table and she always wanted to hear how our day was.

I’m the only daughter. I have one older brother and three younger step-brothers.  We were surrounded by boys! There was a time I KNOW I was awful. I remember it pretty clearly. Kicking, screaming, yelling…. just AWFUL. But, she did not give up on me. As much as she probably wanted to, she didn’t ship me off to live with my dad or pack my bags and tell me to go to my grandparents.   She rode my dreadful wave of crazy until it was over. We are closer now than we have ever been.  She is my number one cheerleader, best friend and will support every decision I make.  Always.

ONE DAY,  God willing, I hope I can be half the mother she is. I truly hope I inherited at least one ounce of her soul.  I hope I can run a household as flawlessly as she does. I hope I can love everyone in my life the way she does.

I know my mom, so I know, for 100% fact, as she is reading this she is crying. Mom, please know those should be nothing but happy tears… full of sobs of accomplishment. You did an amazing job. I love you more than you know.

And what’s a post without pictures?!
My mom sewed all my costumes.  Somehow she made time for that. Thanks for making me the best dressed Leprechaun Hazelwild had ever seen.

Not only did she sew my costumes, she made her own. She made sure she dressed the part for all my birthday parties. Clown party? No problem. Clown cake, clown plates, clown favors MOM AS  A REAL LIFE CLOWN.  So amazing. (When I get my hands on it, I’m adding the photo of her Mickey Mouse costume… Best. Birthday. Ever.)

And last but not least. Even when I looked like this…. She still found joy and laughter in every day.