With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, I am once again reminded of how thankful I am to have been raised by two wonderful parents. I owe much of my success in life so far to the support and encouragement of both my mom and dad.

I especially appreciate my mom for instilling my love of reading, at a very early age. I obviously can’t remember being a baby, but I know that she started reading to me and my brothers and sisters as early as she possibly could. Growing up, my bookshelf was crowded with all the classic authors — Dr. Seuss, the Berenstain Bears, Maurice Sendak, and more, and I know that my mom was always willing to take the time out to read them to us.

I also appreciate my mom for not only cooking us delicious meals, but also letting us help in their preparation. Okay, so maybe my idea of helping was licking the cookie dough off the mixing spoon, but it was still fun to get the chance to be a co-baker. It was even more fun around the holidays, because she’d make cookies or hardboiled Easter eggs, and then we would get the chance to decorate them. I will always have fond memories of those times.

Mom, thank you for driving me and my siblings to various activities. I know that I wasn’t quite as active as some kids, but I still had soccer practice or Scouting activities, or other events, and she was always there to chauffeur us around Alabama in our Dodge Caravan — which we affectionately called “The Schuver Mover.” Even when she was busy working as a school teacher for a few years, she always made time in her schedule to help us get to where we needed to go.

I might not have liked it as a kid, but deep down I even appreciate that she got us involved in chores almost as early as we learned to walk. When I was little, it was something as simple as taking out the trash, and then as I got older it became chores like doing the family wash or helping clean the pool. I didn’t realize it at the time, but she was helping to train me for the time when I would be on my own and responsible for keeping my own home clean. I really appreciate her for that.

Most of all, I just appreciate my mom for always being there when I needed someone to talk to, or someone to get a hug from after a rough day. Even today, I know that she is there for me. May was always a special time in my family, because mom’s birthday is right around Mother’s Day as well, so it was a double celebration.

Happy birthday and Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you so much.