Here in the United States, today is Mother's Day.

In honor of this special day, I would like to ask a favor of everyone. In the comments below, please share a story of the greatest act of motherly love that you ever experienced. That is no big deal. That isn't much of a favor. But that is only half of what I am asking. Next, let the person about whom you wrote know that you shared that particular story.

The star of the story can be your mother, a motherly figure, the mother of your children, a father who has had to play the role of mother and father... basically anyone who deserves to be honored on a day set aside for mothers.

I am lucky. I am surrounded by amazing mothers and motherly figures every day. Here are a few examples of motherly love displayed by three of the most wonderful people I know.

My Mom

Until I was seven years old, my family was relatively poor. I say "relatively" because I am aware that being "poor" in the U.S. is much different than in many parts of the world. But from our point of view, we were indeed poor.

As a single mother, my mom worked many hours as a waitress in order to support my sister and me. On many occasions, she worked from 10:00 in the morning until midnight. As a result, we spent a lot of time at my grandmother's house. I still remember the three-year old me hanging on my mother's leg and crying when she would drop us off. I also remember doing the same after she would visit us on her break. Every day, during her 30 minute lunch break, she would walk to my grandma's house from the restaurant so that she could see us... even if it was only for 15 minutes.

My mom is a very loving woman. I am sure it broke her heart to see me so upset. But my mom is also a smart lady, I'm sure she knew that I was being overly dramatic and 5 minutes after she left, I would go back to playing with my superheroes. It would have been very easy for her to just stay and relax at work during that time. She was on her feet 10-12 hours per day. The last thing she needed was to walk 8 blocks to my grandmother's house. The second to last thing she needed was a crying three year old tugging on her leg.

But that is the thing. It had nothing to do with what she needed. It was all about what her kids needed. We needed clothes, coats, shoes, food, school supplies, an education, a warm bed, and love. She provided all of that... along with some really awesome 1970s toys!

How did she manage to do all of this while being poor?

My sister and I never went without... but that was only because many times my mother did.

The greatest act of motherly love I saw as a child was not just one act. It was constant instances of my mother sacrificing so her children's needs were met. Every September when my sister and I got new school clothes, my mother kept her old ones. Every night when we were able to eat dinner with her, we ate first... then my mom had what was left. Every Christmas and birthday, we had presents, cake and parties just like all the other kids... because my mom spent all year saving every penny she could to ensure that we never knew we were poor.

So I guess I lied when I said my family was poor when I was young. In reality, my mother was poor because she gave all she had to her children. My sister and I weren't really poor. We had everything... because we had Mom.

My teaching assistant

Although my teaching assistant Karen is married, she never had children of her own. She doesn't need any of her own.

Why?

Because every child with special needs in our town is her child.

For the past 25 years, during the school year, Karen works with students with special needs at the high school at which I teach. When school is not in session, she works at the park district camp for kids with special needs. There are many kids at the high school with whom she started working when they were three years old.

For several of those children, Karen has actually spent more waking hours with them than their own parents. For those kids, she is a second mom. And they are lucky to have her in their lives.

Even the ones she does not meet until they arrive at high school are lucky to know her. Many of our students with learning and behavioral disabilities have difficult home lives. Some may not have a positive adult female role model in their lives.

Actually that is another lie.

They have Karen.

She shows motherly love by treating these children with respect, setting limits, having high expectations, listening, caring, laughing and teaching. She shows motherly love by being their "school mom".

I hope my kids remember... and are just like their mom.

My wife

I have already written several posts about how amazing my wife is. She is simply the perfect partner for me and the greatest mother my kids could ever have. Every day she shows Timmy and MJ what motherly love is all about. I have plenty of material from which to choose.

This year I would like to focus on one of the greatest gifts she has given my children...

The perfect role model.

My wife Helen is smart, strong, capable, loving, generous, fun, kind and funny (she's also gorgeous... but that is beside the point). My kids get to see that every day.

My daughter MJ gets to see a woman worth emulating. She can see that a woman is strong and should stand up for herself. A woman is smart and can solve problems. A woman is loving and can take care of those in need. A woman should work hard to achieve any goal that she chooses. A woman should be tenacious and overcome any challenge in her way. A woman should love her children with all her heart. If my daughter can be anything close to the woman my wife is... we have done our jobs as parents.

My son Timmy is watching as well. In addition to learning all of the lessons above, he has the privilege of seeing first hand how a woman deserves to be treated. My wife would never stand for being disrespected by anyone. You better believe that she is teaching my son to treat everyone with respect. Some day my son is going to find someone special. Because he sees how my wife carries herself every day, he will know how to treat that special someone. That should help to make him quite a "catch"!

So now it is your turn.

Number 1: What is the greatest act of motherly love that you ever experienced? (Please share in the comments below.)

Number 2: Please go tell the person responsible for your memory that you shared their story today.

Number 3: Have a Happy Mother's Day!

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