Barbie Perkins-Cooper, Author

Today is a special day for family, friends and extended family members. Today, in America, we celebrate our mothers.  Motherhood is something precious to behold. We are not educated as children, or young mothers-to-be on the subject of what defines a mother. Many people think simply giving birth defines us as mothers. Hardly.

Becoming a mother, teaching our children and watching them grow up to be responsible, kind and loving people helps us to serve as mothers.  I recall the day I became a mother, holding that precious little bundle in my arms, checking all of his fingers and toes, and glancing over him, while admiring this precious child my husband and I had created – words cannot describe how I felt.  Before long, or as I describe, in the blink of an eye, off he went — grown and ready to conquer the world on his own. I prayed that I had taught my son well. Today, he appears happy and proud of who, and what, he is, along with his accomplishments. So, I suppose, as a mother, I did my job; nevertheless; I wanted to do more than my job because never did I consider motherhood a job.

Daily it seems we hear stories about mothers ‘leaving their children in hot cars,’ or shaking their babies, just to hush them. Do these actions define motherhood? I think not.

All of us have our own definition of what defines a mother, and I will add my own thoughts to my definition. A mother is not necessarily biological. A mother teaches her child to grow with love and affection and appreciation to others. We teach values, respect and so much more.

On this day, I’d like to wish all of you — Mothers — a happy and joyous day, filled with pride and love for those you have loved, reared and taught the values, morals, and ethics of what it takes to become a good citizen and a great person. Let us not teach hatred. Let us not teach bigotry. Let us not teach abuse. Let us all teach the golden rules of life. Happy Mothers Day, with L-O-V-E.