My Hero Doesn’t Wear a Cape

As a child, if you asked who my favorite superhero was, I undoubtedly told you Spider-Man or Batman. The cartoons and classic tv shows that filled my days solidified that response for my formative years. But then I grew up and gained a little wisdom.

Ask me that same question now, and 💯% without a doubt, I’ll tell you it’s my mom. There’s not a woman on the face of this earth who could ever compete with her. My mom is awesome. She is kind, smart, classy, and sassy. She’s the epitome of what a woman should be. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; if I can grow to be half the woman she is, I’ll consider my life a success.

My mom was 21 when I was born. I am eternally grateful that at such a young age, she knew that she was ready to dedicate her life to being a mom. I had the privilege of growing up with the “cool” mom. She was young enough to be involved, to understand, and still mature enough to raise my sister and I to be the people we are; people she can be proud of. The values that she instilled in me made me who I am today. I am far from perfect, but I believe that I am a good person because of her. This incredible woman is the voice in my head reminding me to be the best person I can. I don’t ever want to let her down or cause her to be disappointed in me for any reason.

Every mother wants a better life for her children. It goes back to hindsight being 20/20. Moms don’t want to see their children make the same mistakes they did or have to deal with the same adversity they may have faced. They offer advice and guidance. They share their shortcomings in the hopes that we will learn from them. They love us unconditionally even when we don’t make it easy for them. They accept our faults and suffer through our rebellious years where we undoubtedly say horrible things that we don’t really mean but shatter their hearts nonetheless. Through it all, they support us. They cheer us on and they pick us up when we fall. They sacrifice their own wants and needs to provide for us. Moms step back and realize that their life is no longer about them, and they have an uncanny ability to hide their hurt to spare us feeling any kind of way. Moms are the real superheroes.

My mom has been my rock. No matter what is going on in her life, no matter what problems of her own she may be facing, she ALWAYS puts my sister and I first. For forty years now, she has been Mom first and foremost. She’s put herself on the back burner so many times that I could never possibly repay her for all she’s done. Not that she would let me anyway. In her eyes, that’s just the way it’s supposed to be.

I know that it would have been absolutely impossible for me to make it this far without her in my corner. As if having two daughters wasn’t enough for her to deal with, she has always opened her heart to our friends as well. She “adopted” so many kids throughout the years because my sister and I knew that everyone deserved to have a mom like her. I’ve never know her to turn away from anyone who needed her help. Even if it’s nothing more than lending an ear, she is always there.

When my kids were born, the world’s bestest greatest Mom became the world’s bestest greatest Granny. I asked her before they were born what she preferred to be called. She only thought for a second before she settled on Granny. My daughter asked her why she picked Granny, and my mom simply said, “Have you ever seen the Beverly Hillbillies?” I thought she did so much for me growing up, but it was nothing compared to the way she has been there for us since my children were born. She says if children are rainbows, grandchildren are the pots of gold. And she may have told me on more than one occasion that if she’d know how cool it was to be a grandma, she would’ve skipped me and had them first!

I am so very blessed to be my mother’s daughter. I am honored to also be her friend. She is the best person I know, and she deserves all the love and respect and happiness that the world can offer her. Please show her some love.

Happy Friday, and thanks for reading. Stay safe, be kind, and if she’s still here, tell your mom you love her.

I love you, Mom, with all my heart and SOLD! ❤️