Of my mom’s four daughters, she said I was the most badly behaved child. I threw tantrums when I didn’t get my way and fought with my little sister constantly. Even as a kid, I had high expectations and was very discerning with the outfits I wore and how my hair looked (much more so than today). I despised the bangs my mom refused to let me grow out and hated sharing clothes and hand-me-downs from my older sister.

I remember exhibiting most of these bad behaviors but I’m pretty sure I can justify them all. (After all, how was it my fault that my sister was an annoying little twerp?) 

I’m kidding, of course. 

In spite of my attitude, my mom did a great job raising us. Not a day goes by that I don’t remind her of how great of an adult I turned out to be. In fact, I tell her that I’ve redeemed my bratty self because I turned out to be the prettiest and most well-rounded adult out of all of her kids. (Since my sisters aren’t “old enough” to read the BEACON yet, this is absolutely 100 percent true.)

I know raising us wasn’t easy. At one point, she was a single parent of three girls, working three jobs to make ends meet. As a teenager, I tried to be respectful to her although I most certainly fell short. She wasn’t perfect either, but I’ve always looked up to her. She gives great advice when I need it, and doesn’t when she knows I need to decide for myself (and I love her for that!)

Do you know who else has a great mom? My husband. 

Other than raising a kind-hearted (and incredibly handsome) young man, she also had a hand in raising me. As a teenager, she drove me to school until she taught me how to drive. She and my father-in-law housed me, fed me (and my friends) in college, and still support me in more ways than I can keep track of. 

Another mom to me is actually a dear friend who I’ve known since I was a teenager. This self-less woman has a way of raising me up and making me feel precious and important, even when I wasn’t feeling low to begin with. She expresses her love in ways that don’t come naturally to most people, whether by offering help during moments of stress (of which there are many), listening to my ramblings over dinner, sharing my accomplishments on Facebook, writing random love notes and texting me videos of puppies. 

My husband and I don’t have kids, but if/when we do, I hope they’re close reflections of  these wonderful women who love me. With all three of these women, I’ve shared moments of sheer joy, love, surprise, fun and faith, which I’ll treasure always.