A Tribute to My Mother

The power of the pen is a mighty one when you’re the editor of a community news website. You can shine a light on the , and . You keep your neighbors informed and help them tell their stories.  

I try not to abuse that power, as I have thousands of readers holding me accountable. But today, I’d like to pay a special tribute to the most loyal Encino Patch reader I know: my mother.  

I always knew that I had a special bond with my mom, but it took me a while to realize that not every daughter has a mother like mine.

When I was a little girl, I thought that all mothers gently tucked the covers around their daughters and told magical bedtime stories about Princess Lauren and her siblings, Prince Neal and Princess Victoria.

And I thought all mothers woke their daughters each morning by rubbing their backs and whispering, “Rise and shine.”

I thought that all mothers put notes in their daughter's lunchbox—little handwritten reminders that she was loved.

I thought all mothers stayed up late as their daughters studied for an important exam or finished an essay, checking in every once in awhile with encouraging words.

I thought that all mothers made their daughters feel safe and always had the right words to say.

Because that is all I have ever known.

My mom has always been my sounding board. If I need to vent, if a guy breaks my heart or if I'm caught in a sticky situation, she is always the first person I want to go to.

I turn to her for her advice, for her words of wisdom, for her unconditional love. I’ve learned so much from my mother—what it means to be truly giving and caring, how important it is to be fair, how to believe in myself and in my ideals. Because of her, I've known nothing but love and kindness.

My mom has always been the epitome of grace and class. She took on the minutiae of child rearing with pride as she drove us to school, watched every dance recital, hosted the end-of-the-year parties and organized play dates.

A decade later, I’ve traded my pink tights and ballet slippers for memo pads and ballpoint pens. But so much of who I am today is because of her—the way she raised me, the example she set and the guidance and support she continues to provide.

She reads Encino Patch every day, even though she's 400 miles away and there’s no need for her to know about the or the .

But that's what mothers do. Right?

What I do know is that when I have children of my own someday, I will have had the ideal role model, who has taught me just what a mother should be.

And until then, I will continue trying to emulate the kind of woman she is.

I love you, Mom. Thank you for being who you are, and for being such an inspiration to me. Happy Mother’s Day!