When my sister was in kindergarten, the local newspaper came by the school the week before Mother’s Day to ask kids why they loved their moms. My sister’s response was, “I love my mommy because she lets me play outside.” My mom was horrified… “people will think I never let you go outside!” My sister insists that she was just nervous and didn’t know what to say.

It’s true though… I love my mama because she lets me play outside. When it was time for college, I decided on a university that was 7 hours away from her, and she was okay with this. When I told her that I really wasn’t Catholic anymore, and that I had been attending a Unitarian Universalist church, she accepted it. When I told her that I had become a vegetarian, she cooked meatless meals for me, even on Thanksgiving. When I told her I was turning my back on my nutrition education and taking a job at a vet clinic, she wished me good luck. When I told her I was moving to Boston, she cried, and drove those seven hours to Austin to hug me goodbye.

I have to agree with my sister… my mom has always encouraged us to be ourselves, to branch out, to live our own lives. I think this backfires for her sometimes, as I have become very independent and sometimes forget to call home often enough, but still, she accepts me, and loves me, and encourages me to play outside her comfort zone. She’s the best.

Happy Mother’s Day, mom. I love you.