Don’t forget your mom today. Or your kids’ mom. Or any mom that’s impacted your life.

In 1914, a congressional resolution was signed by Woodrow Wilson that made the second Sunday in May “Mother’s Day”. Several differrent origins have contributed to Mother’s Day in the US. “Mothering Sunday” has been celebrated in the UK for un undeterminate amount of time as the 4th Sunday of Lent. A mother’s celebration has been traced back to ancient Greece and mother worship, and it’s celebrated on several different dates around the world.

So I was just sitting here thinking what an amazing thing it is to be a mother. Now, I’m not a mother, so I don’t know first hand, but I wanted to especially today send a special thank you to the moms that are readers here.

First of all, if it were up to men, I don’t know that there would be babies at all. I think I speak for the whole of the male population when I say that we’re too big of wimps to have babies (if that option was available). Especially not more than one. In a word… .OUCH. I have four children, and I’ve been present at all of their births. It’s the most wonderful and scary thing all at once. Like I said… I just wouldn’t have the guts to go through that myself.

I was thinking about the ways that MY mom has impacted my life. And I think that her enduring legacies in me can’t be simply defined in a word.

My mom (and dad both) taught me the value of hard work. She’s a second generation American from a passionate, musical and artistic Mexican family. My grandpa on her side is 80+ years old, and still manages to get out and supervise the workers in his pecan orchard. He drove a dump truck every day for as far back as I remember and until just a few years ago. He’s bent with age and partially blind, but he’s still very willing to lend a helping hand. Well, my mom got that work ethic from him, and passed it along to me.

My mom loves books, and having lots of them. If you’ve been to my house, or know me at all, you know that’s something I do as well. There are books in every room in my house.

She’s a great cook, and passed along some of those skills to my sister and I. There’s nothing that compares to her authentic New Mexican cooking. From enchiladas, tamales, and my personal favorite, chile rellenos, yum… the best ever.

She’s sanguine. She makes everyone feel comfortable and welcome and is a great hostess. She taught me to help people feel at home in places where they aren’t. She’s constantly making sure that people are comfortable, well fed and happy.

She’s spiritual and passionate in the way that she prays for her children, her extended family, friends and church family.

Thanks Mom, and Happy Mother’s Day! A very special thanks to my wife, the mother of my kids, and a thank you to all of the moms out there from the DetroitBuzz staff.