“God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers.” –Jewish proverb

When God created mothers, he equipped them with superior senses, acute awareness, and a mega dose of extra sensory perception. Mothers are superwomen and omnipresent. Even when they are not physically with you, you feel their loving presence.

Oprah Winfrey has said, “Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.”

Every biological, adoptive, step, foster, or surrogate mother would agree. Yes, mothers have evolved over the years.

When I was a child, most mothers were the stay-at-home variety, mine included. Back then most moms also wore house dresses like June Cleaver (“Leave It to Beaver”) or Margaret Anderson (“Father Knows Best”), mine included. Thankfully, house dresses are now passé. More importantly, the idea that stay-at-home mothers don’t really work has also vanished. Today, we rightly recognize all mothers as working mothers, whether employed outside the home or not.

Despite the evolution of mothers, some things remain the same. Mothers can still kiss a boo-boo and make it all better know what is going on behind closed doors hear a cookie jar lid being removed from another room smell tobacco breath through the pungent odor of peppermint (in my day, Sen-Sen) and taste burned cookies and declare them delicious.

Knowledgeable on many topics, moms gladly impart their wisdom with pithy remarks.

For example, on nutrition, “Eat your vegetables. There are starving people in (insert a country here).” On finance, “Do you think money grows on trees?” On obedience, “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times.” On conversation, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” On recreation, “It’s always fun until someone gets hurt.” And my personal favorite, on explanations, “Because I’m your mother and I said so.”

Being a mother and a stepmother is the most challenging job I have ever had. It is also the most rewarding. Much love to my children, Sarah, Lisa, and Jim. I couldn’t have done it without you!

With eternal gratitude, I dedicate this column to my mother, Helen. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you or miss you. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.

–Chicago Mary