Top Ten Reasons My Mom Rocks

I don't like to brag, but I really do have an awesome mom.

(OK, maybe I'm bragging a little.)

Growing up, I took it for granted, but now that I'm a mom myself, I'm in awe. Having TWO kids is crazy hard--how on Earth she juggled five kids, a legal career, homeschooling, and everything else, I'll never know.

She gave me an incredible gift that's shaped who I am today: Every day, I got to see that it's possible to be an accomplished professional AND a garden-growing, home-cooking, full-on amazing mom.

I could list a million reasons that she's the best. Here are a few:

1. She's the only practicing female attorney I know with five kids. Enough said! I'm sure there are others, but you don't come across many.

2. She's written legislation and worked with the attorney general, but most of her career has been spent as an advocate for those who can't speak for themselves. She's currently a mental health advocacy lawyer at Western State Hospital--a tough and often thankless job (kinda like being a mom!)--but she loves it.

3. She nursed, cloth diapered, and homeschooled her kids long before it was fashionable.

4. She grows her own veggies--and she's darn good at it! She seems to attract plants, and they thrive under her care.

5. She can cook anything, from scratch. No boxes or mixes required. Thanks to her, I grew up without tasting instant mashed potatoes, instant hot cocoa, or frosting from a can. She makes chicken soup with homemade noodles that can cure anything.

6. She babysits at the drop of a hat and loves the role of grandma. And she lets my kids call her "grandma"--that sweet, old-fashioned word that seems to be out of fashion today.

7. She nurtured my love of books and writing by dragging us to the Timberland Regional Library more times than I can count, and paying what were probaby hefty library fines on dozens of Sweet Valley High books.

8. Growing up, she sewed all of our Halloween costumes--and my prom dress.

9. When we were growing up and money and time were tight, she did all she could to make our birthdays special. I still remember her driving all of my friends to an ice-skating rink in Tacoma for mine, and that Barbie-doll cake she made for Kendra's.

10. She makes me so proud, and she inspires me to want to make my kids proud, too.

Here's to you, mom, and to moms everywhere!

Happy Mother's Day! YOU ROCK!