I call my mom every day.

I’m not even going to pretend otherwise: I’m a momma’s boy, to the core.

If you knew my mom, you wouldn’t blame me. She’s one of the kindest, smartest, and most generous women I’ve ever known. She makes me smile every single day, and she taught me the most important lesson I have ever learned: the best thing I could ever be is myself, so forget trying to be someone I’m not.

I read an article the other day that said that most men rarely ever call their mothers. I find this shocking. I call or text or email my mother every day. Even if I’ve seen her that same day. If that’s supposed to make me some kind of soft push-over, so be it. My mother is more important to me than some societal stereotype.

I read another article that said if mothers were to be paid for the work they do, they would receive six-figure salaries every year. Honestly, I think they’re lowballing. Growing up, my mom acted as doctor, teacher, psychiatrist, arbiter, fashion consultant, historian, mediator, career counsellor, and much more. You try doing all those jobs at the same time; six figures just wouldn’t cut it.

So today, on Mother’s Day, and every day after this, I’m not going thank my mom for everything she has done for me. It just wouldn’t be enough. Instead, I’m going to show her the fruits of her labor; I’m going to prove to her that her hard work raising me resulted in a son that reflects the goodness and compassion that she emanates every day.

Happy Mother’s Day mom. You have always been my inspiration and continue to be my motivation to be the best me I can be.