It's our week!

Several of my friends have birthweeks instead of birthdays, meaning that they celebrate the entire week of their birthday.

While I do adore these people, my self-importance has never reached a level that inspired me to make an entire week about my birthday. Weekend, maybe. But not the whole week.

In their defense, it's not so much a matter of ego as it is a will to party. They just like to have a good time, and when is a better time than your own personal anniversary? After all, it's a celebration of an important relationship--the one they share with themselves.

An important relationship to me is my one as a mom. Is there a greater bond than that of mother and child? And is there a more precious gift than the gift of life?

Mother's Day is a week away, Friends, and I've decided to celebrate my place in our family throughout the next seven days. I'm hoping you will join me when I ask for stories, opinions and advice. And even if you're not a mother, by choice or chance, that doesn't mean you can't celebrate. Aunts, Godmothers, Sisters, Teachers, Friends--all have gifts of mothering that deserve to be recognized and appreciated.

Even though two of my best friends don't have children of their own, I've been luckily to have their love and support throughout my own parenting journey--and what a journey it's been! MB and BG are aunts and Godmothers and sisters, and they know what it means to truly love a child.

MB's love for me and my children has always been unconditional. How could it not be. She's there to hear the funny stories. She's there when I feel overwhelmed. She's there to cheer on every success--even if that success is that we all made it out of the house, showered and clothed, in less than 3 hours. She's there to hear every failure--even when that failure is potty training gone horribly wrong. She has been building the most amazing library for my children, buying them collector's editions and classics since the day they were born. And even when I'm busy with my three children, and she's busy with her advanced education, job as an editor and wonderful husband, we still find time to talk. Even if it is at odd hours and about odd subjects. I love her so much, and she is one of the friends who makes me a better mom.

Somewhere Dr. David M. Jones is laughing as I write that BG has made me a better mom. But it's so true. This incredibly unique woman, who attracts a cast of characters worthy of their own Discovery Health reality series, is one of my personal heroes. Whether you need alcohol or advice, she comes through every time it matters. On days when I've been whined to and shat upon, I turn to BG. I know that regardless of what I'm about to tell her, she will respond with something so much worse. And it will be so rich, so foul and so inappropriate that all I can do is laugh. I'm so lucky to have her in my corner, and she's definitely in my corner. At the slightest sound of sadness in my words, she's ready to throw down with somebody. The Irish gypsy in her is immediately inspired, and I immediately begin to think that I should design an exit strategy for the impending wrath that she's about to release. You do not mess with a BG. And you do not mess with a BG's kinfolk. As a mom, you NEED a crazy, Irish gypsy in your corner. But with BG, it's always BOGO. And with her you also get one of the most hilarious and intuitive souls to ever walk the earth. Her intuition has served her well as an amazing writer and has helped her develop the best comedic timing. And let's face it, mom's need to laugh daily. I love her, and I'm so lucky to have her in my life the last 13 years. Hey and hey and hey!

Even though MB and BG aren't moms themselves, they've sure made a positive difference in the life of a child.

*And to those of you reading this on Facebook, I'd love to hear your similar story if you've got one!