Someone once said that "the only time your Mom has smiled while you were crying... is on the day that you were born." With Mother's Day approaching, I have been listening to a Sarah Kay poem, and repeatedly thinking about my Mother, my Grandmother, and perhaps one day, my daughter.

Because there's nothing more beautifulthan the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away.You will put the wind in win some, lose some.You will put the star in starting over, and over.And no matter how many land mines erupt in a minute,be sure your mind landson the beauty of this funny place called life.And yes, on a scale from one to over-trusting,I am pretty damn naive.But I want her to know that this world is made out of sugar. It can crumble so easily but don't be afraid to stick your tongue out and taste it. "Baby," I'll tell her, "remember, your momma is a worrier,and your poppa is a warrior,and you are the girl with small hands and big eyeswho never stops asking for more."Remember that good things come in threesand so do bad things.Always apologize when you've done something wrong,but don't you ever apologizefor the way your eyes refuse to stop shining.Your voice is small, but don't ever stop singing.And when they finally hand you heartache,when they slip war and hatred under your doorand offer you handouts on street-cornersof cynicism and defeat,you tell them that they really ought to meet your mother.

I made a promise to my Dad that I would not make a big deal out of Mother's Day this year, not that my family has ever made the biggest deal of this holiday, but this would be my Mom's first Mother's Day without her own mother. I miss my Grandma every day, and I know my Mom misses her even more than I do, but I also know that my Mom deserves to be celebrated for everything she does, day in and day out for my family.

This case is not unique; there are many people in the world who do not have a mother to celebrate Mother's Day with or a father to celebrate Father's Day with. However, as I pondered this strange thought not to celebrate Mother's Day I realized what the holiday is actually about. Mother's Day is about celebrating all that your Mom has done for you, celebrating who she is or was as a person, and celebrating the person she has transformed you into.

I am so incredibly lucky that my Mom is by my side, right where she has always been since the day that I was born, but not everyone is as fortunate as I am. I had a long discussion with my Dad about him losing his mother over twenty years ago and how he views Mother's Day. My Dad told me that Mother's Day is a difficult day; you want to celebrate all that your mother has done for you, but she is not by your side to celebrate with.

Obviously, I do not know how anyone who has lost a parent feels on one of the holidays that celebrates parents, but I do know a little about my parent's struggles with these holidays since their parents are gone. I wish there was a cure all to this problem, but the only thing I can think of is to celebrate your mom, no matter where she is. I know this Mother's Day, I will be celebrating my Mom and my Grandma for giving me, my Mom. So celebrate in any way that you can, and if you do not feel comfortable or ready to celebrate this holiday, just remember to be thankful and cherish the memories you have of your mother. I love you to the moon and back, Momma.