One day isn't enough

I know Mother's Day was two days ago, but I'm going to tell this story anyway because mothers are awesome, my mother is awesome and you should be able to celebrate their awesomeness no matter what day it is.

I had been out of school for about six months when I found out I would be coming to Athabasca. I was living in North Bay, Ontario at the time, had just finished my internship at the city newspaper there and was stringing together freelance work to keep myself going until I found something more permanent.

Frankly, I was broke and even though I knew I would be working full time, I didn't have the money to get myself from Ontario to Alberta and pay my bills while I waited to get my first few pay cheques.

When mum found out that I'd gotten a job, there wasn't anyone happier than she was, and she immediately offered to help in any way that she could to get started. It wasn't so much that she gave me money to help me with my move, it was that she gladly gave it without a second thought, saying it was a joy for her to do so. If those had been her last dollars she still would have done whatever she could to help me in that situation.

That's just one of the ways that my mother has been there for me over the years. She has been a constant source of love and support in every way imaginable. She is a strong, intelligent, loving and passionate person, and without her help or example I wouldn't be where I am today, in Athabasca or otherwise.

But that is a small example what mothers do. They love you know matter how old you get, what you do or how far away you are. They sacrifice, they give, they do whatever it takes to help their children and families, and they do it without hesitation or complaint. They are deeply invested in your success, cheer the loudest when you accomplish something and share your pain when you fall short.

One day's celebration really isn't enough to show proper gratitude for those wonderful women in our lives, because they do so much more than can ever be repaid.