Before you move on, this is not a typical "Mother's Day" post. This is about thanking one woman in particular for stepping up to the role of "mom" when my birth mother failed to do so. This woman is typically known as "step-mom" to the general population. To me, though, she is now "mom" and will be for the rest of my life.

For the longest time, I did not believe this woman was, or every could be, my mom. I only saw her as my step-mother. At times, I even wanted to picture her as the evil step-mother because I wanted to view myself as Snow White or something like that. Besides, I had a mother and a father, why would I need someone else in my life, even if she has been there since I was a baby?

However, as I grew up, I began to realize who my "real" mother was. A mother isn't only someone who gave birth to you. A mother is a woman who is there for you, no matter how many times you break her heart. A mother is someone who sacrifices something that she loves just to give you something that you want. A mother who is a woman who will go the extra mile every time, or at least go to your volleyball games or speech meets.

It took me way too long to figure it out. My birth mother is not my mother. She did not sacrifice things she loved to give me the things that I wanted. She did not go the extra mile, and rarely went to any games or other school-related activities. If I broke her heart, she seemed to take the anger too far.

My mother turned out to be my step-mother. She has made sacrifices for me that I probably didn't deserve, but she loves me so she was more than happy to make those sacrifices. She has been there since day one, comforting my tears and laughing at my corny jokes. She has gone to numerous school events, even after she had worked a 12 hour shift. She has loved me and spoiled me and taken my side more times than I can count. I have broken her heart countless times, yet she has forgiven me every time, without hesitation.

My mother and I may not be as close as we could be, but I would never trade her for any other woman. She has made me strong. She has taught me how to stand up for myself and love like there's no tomorrow. She has shown me what it feels like when you have unwavering support from a mom.

It took me until about a year after I graduated from high school to realize who my mother really is. Now that I have figured that out, I couldn't be happier. My mother is my hero and my idol. I look up to her when I'm stuck. I think "What Would Mother Do" and work my problems out that way.

Happy Mother's Day, mom. Thank you for stepping up when I needed you the most, and sorry it took so long for me to figure this all out. I love you.