I'm sure there are a lot of comments and thoughts on Mother's Day out there right now, but for whatever it's worth, here are some of mine. I think Mother's Day is great, but I think people, especially religious people, get hung up on the traditional idea of mothers, meaning a woman raising her own biologically related children. Now don't get me wrong, these women are amazing. So many of us have mothers like this whom we absolutely adore. They are our examples, our supporters, our teachers and I don't think any of us would be who we are without them. I'm not discounting them or their sacrifices at all.

However, I don't want to let this Mother's Day pass without honoring the non-traditional mothers of this world. The grandmothers, stepmothers, adoptive mothers, aunts, teachers, neighbors, any woman who has an influence over someone's life. I have known so many wonderful women in my life who, while they are not biologically my mothers, have taught me and changed my life for the better, and I'm sure many of us could say the same. Motherhood isn't just about carrying and raising a child, it's about being a positive influence in someone's life, whether they're children or adults. Yes, even adults need positive examples in their lives, at least I know I do. These are the people who maybe were there when biological mothers couldn't be and taught someone something, maybe by a single act of kindness or by raising the expectation a little higher and encouraging someone to achieve more that they thought would ever happen.

For me, one of the biggest examples of this is my stepmother. At first it was difficult to accept her as part of my life, but now I can't imagine life without her. She is a hero in my family, she reminds us every day to smile, stay busy, and take some time to do things that make us happy. She is always there for me if I need anything or just want to talk, and she has a way of making everyone around her feel appreciated and loved. Her positive influence has helped make me the person I am today, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world.

Women like this can be anyone. Maybe you had a teacher in school that you really connected with, or maybe a neighbor who always waved to you and talked to you about your life. Or maybe it was your best friend, who was there for you when no one else was. Whoever this person is for you, I hope you took the time to celebrate them this Mother's Day too. They deserve all the gratitude and love that we can give them.