Honoring all moms on Mother's Day

Mother.

Definition: Women who inhabit or perform the role of bearing some relation to their children, who may or may not be their biological offspring.

Mother's Day is celebrated once a year, although being a mom is an everyday activity – and at times an adventure. Every day, we interact with all kinds of moms, and they all share something in common: they have taken the responsibility to care for a child, to guide them in the right direction and make sure they have the necessities to be the best person they can be.

In recent years, there has been a decline in the traditional nuclear family, meaning that single-parent households have doubled in the last 20 years. Pop culture sometimes depicts single moms, young mothers or women who aren't raising their biological children struggling or constantly facing uphill battles.

When it comes to motherhood, for local mom Kathryn Brown, she remains positive for her and her daughter's future.

"When you come from such a dark time in your life, to creating a new life with a tiny human being who is watching your every move and listening to every word, you learn to let the bad stuff go," said Brown. "You focus solely on your future and how you can make it the best it can be."

At no matter what age, it's rumored that no one is fully prepared to raise a child. With the twists and turns, motherhood brings unexpected surprises and changes on a daily basis.

"I'm not sure I was mentally ready to take on being a mother, but once my daughter was born it just clicked. My greatest struggle is the unknown, if everything I'm doing is right," said Brown. "Every mom goes through this. We have our struggles, but no single struggle exceeds what the others have been."

While balancing two jobs, making every second count with her daughter is always a priority for Brown.

"Whether it's five minutes from daycare to pre-school, or a few hours before bedtime of playing, reading, coloring or curling up on the couch watching movies," Brown said. "If I'm not working, my time is spent with Emerson. She is always my plus one."

Moms are constantly getting and giving advice about what they should do when it comes to certain situations and what they shouldn't.

"Don't compare your mothering to other moms. It steals the joy and happiness you can have with your family and with your children," Brown said. "It's so easy to say 'Well she does this, she buys that and she's all organic,' but at the end of the day, if you can support your family and live well and happy, that is enough."

For many of us, we all have that one woman who served a major part in our being here as well as being raised to the best of their ability.

"I could not be the mom I am today without the friendship and support from my own mother," said Brown. "She is a huge part of our lives and takes so many leaps and bounds to show me how to better my own parenting responsibilities. She has taught me how to take each new step with grace and patience and reminds me daily that I am not in control. I couldn't ask for a better mom, role model and nana for Emerson."

Acknowledging and showing appreciation for the hard work and sacrifices that women go through for their children is what Mother's Day is all about. No matter if you're a single mom, young mom, not-so-young mom, divorced mom, married mom, adoptive mom, grandma or aunt, you're someone's hero.