Happy Mother's Day (early)

My mother is the coolest. Sure, she was dumb as a box of rocks when I was a teenager. Somehow, as I grew older, she got much smarter. She has wisdom that no education can offer. She is smart and articulate and a very talented writer of songs and poetry. She loves animals, and understands the thoughts and feelings of every living creature.

Mom doesn't play little mind-games that other people play. She always tells the truth, when asked, but doesn't throw her opinion out when it's none of her business. There are many times that I know she wants to say, "I told you so." But she doesn't. She bites her tongue and lets it go. She doesn't meddle in our finances, although I know it makes her cringe when we buy something stupid. Although the rules are slightly different at "grandma's house," she doesn't tell me how to raise my kids.

Speaking of grandma's house, she keeps my kids every Saturday night. She is a working woman who enjoys solitude and quiet time on her computer, but she takes these two squealing, giggling, climbing girls and spends time with them. They bake cookies and play online and help care for animals. They learn things from her and I think she learns from them.

She boards my horse, free of charge. She has to let him out onto pasture and bring him back in, even after she's worked all day. She feeds my crew at least one big meal each weekend, when I'm sure she'd rather relax. She tolerates the sound of NFL games and Nascar races on her TV, although I'm sure there's something she'd rather hear.

She sees the world through eyes that are free of cynisism. The sunrise is more beautiful to her today than it was yesterday. She literally stops to smell the flowers. She finds comfort in spending the night in the woods on her property in a converted shed. She sees the beauty in lying under a water tower, gazing up from her position in the grass below. She takes wonderful pictures from the back of her trusted horse, and sees the "adventure" in getting lost on a road trip.

Mom loves her family. I used to get hot breakfast and full dinners. She never baked fish sticks or boxed macaroni and cheese, as I am so guilty of sometimes. Her husband is her life, and she will stop whatever she's doing to "warm up" his cup of coffee after dinner. She accepts my as I am, too. She didn't like the tattoo, but after giving me her honest opinion, she never brought it up again. Her grandkids gravitate toward that 43 acres of peace, when they could be partying with their friends. She takes time to teach them proper grooming of the horse before they ride, and even takes the same pains with the neighborhood children.

I hope that, someday, I can be half the woman she is. When I think I'm losing my mind and will never make it through a situation, I consider how she would handle the situation. She keeps her cool and makes adjustments and moves on. There is no need to panic, since she's lived through worse than this.

Yeah, my mom rocks. I wouldn't trade her for any mother in the world. I spent some time tonight, thinking of mothers. Fictional moms from television, mothers of my friends, other female relatives and those in books. I can't think of a single one who could even come close. I love you, Mom.