“I’ve got the best job in the world,” I thought to myself as my son, Landon, climbed onto the couch to give me a hug and kiss — his third or fourth of the evening.

I welcomed him, though I was hoping to relax for a few minutes after a long day of work.

I thought, “There’s nothing better than a hug from your child.”

Though I longed to sit back and relax with a movie that evening, Landon had other plans.

He was ready to play and reached out his hand to grab mine and pull me up off the couch and into the other room where he wanted to show me something.

“C,mon, Mom,” he said.

With his hand in mine, I stood up and followed him.

After looking at what he had to show me, I returned to the couch a few minutes later, only to see him return and ask me to follow him again.

This continued on a few more times, until I reached the conclusion that I would forego the movie and focus 100 percent on the little guy.

I asked myself, “What’s really more important here?”

While parts of me would have rather been able to relax with the movie, another part of me was touched by the fact that there’s someone in this world who needs me. It was a humbling feeling.

While I’ll be the first to admit that being a mom — and working full time — is no easy task, the experience of being a mom is priceless.

I don’t know about the rest of you moms out there, but I wake up tired and go to bed exhausted — but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

While being a mom is the hardest job I’ll ever have, it is also the most rewarding.

Thanks to all of the mothers out there who provide good examples to me of how to show selfless love to your children, and most of all, thank you to my own mother in Virginia, who is one of the most patient and loving people I know. Thanks for showing me by your example how to be a good mother. Looking back, I can’t think of one experience where my mom has been anything but loving.

Looking ahead to Mother’s Day this Sunday, I think not only of my own biological mother, but of all the other women out there who have served in some kind of adopted mother or grandmother role for me and my family. We have a handful of you out there in Albert Lea. For the love and support you have shown me and my children, I will be forever grateful.

Take the time this week to thank those mothers in your own lives. It’s something we should do every day.

 

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune. Her column appears every Tuesday.