Mother.

It's such an emotional word. That woman who shaped us, encouraged us, challenged us, loved us beyond all others.

See I can't even type without my eyes welling up. I've always been an emotional person, even more so once my mother died and I became a mother myself. Add in the pregnancy hormones and the result is, this isn't going to be the blog I wanted to write. I mean poor Mike Waterhouse next to me here in the newsroom would be beside himself in his discomfort over me sitting over here crying.

So I will just say that I am thinking about the strongest, kindest, most courageous and beautiful woman I've ever known who gave everything she had and more to her ever grateful daughter who misses her more than a million tears can express.

I am thinking about an amazing mother whose time spent with her precious newborn son was measured in only days instead of the decades and decades they should've had.

I am thinking about the woman who commented in my last blog, and all the women like her whose hearts have broken into pieces in their efforts to become a mother. I can never begin to understand your pain but I hope I never add to it.

And all the mothers like me, whose young children (with assistance from their wonderful teachers) have been sneaking and plotting, fingerpainting and pasting, who've had to talk their 4-year olds out of springing their Mother's Day presents early because they just can hardly wait to show you how much they love you.

 I hope you all have a happy Mother's Day.