Mom

Do you have a mom?

If you don't, you should totally get one. They buy you stuff when you are grown up and you don't need it and can actually afford it yourself, simply because they have a coupon and see a duvet they think you'll like. Moms send you goofy postcards and then don't get mad when you post it on the internet for everyone to see. Moms drive 10 hours one way for the weekend just to see their granddaughters dive and swim when the outside temperature is 100 degrees.

Moms take you to the pool on their days off when they would rather be working in their garden. They sit on hard bleachers and endure hours of other people's kids only to see you perform 5 minutes of your own sport, and not very well, at that. They stay up late helping you with your homework after you've procrastinated too long, without saying a word. Moms let you have 15 girls over for a birthday sleepover because that's what you want.

Moms are great listeners and always think that you are the smartest kid around. They laugh at all your jokes and think everything you do is Genius. They believe you are the most beautiful kid in the world, even when your ears stick out or you have a big zit on the end of your nose or your arms and legs are freakishly short.

Moms cry with you when your world comes crashing down and stand by to help you build yourself back up. They stand behind you and support you when you aren't strong enough to stand on your own. They will push themselves beyond limits to help you when you are too worn to help yourself.

Today is my mom's birthday.

It's also the day I stop and recognize what an amazing mom she's been, how fortunate I am, and how lucky her grandchildren are to know her.