When it comes down to it, I would do anything for my mom. She’s been in Mexico for the past month, meaning my brothers and I were in charge of making sure her house stays where it is. We’re supposed to be responsible for the bills, cleaning, making food. And although it’s been the hardest month of my life, I do it because I have to.

My mom is my best friend, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her. It is why I decided to make a list of what makes MY mom, or perhaps your mom too, the best in the world.

1. Just like you would do anything for her, your mom would do anything for you.

Sometime’s I’m dumb, and I’m an idiot. I don’t listen to my mom, and I would be upset when she would say something I don’t want her to say. But I know for a fact, she would do anything for me. I remember her staying up until three in the morning with me because I didn’t understand how to do my math homework. Or all the times she told me to speak Spanish because I was forgetting how to say certain words, and she wanted me to speak Spanish for many reasons. She pushed me to do better, and for all the many things she’s ever done for me, I will never forget.

2. Amazing food.

Maybe it’s cause I come from a Mexican family, but I love the food she makes. The pozole, the frijoles, the chilaquiles. This kind of stuff is passed from parents to kids, so hopefully soon, I can make some tamales on my own. My mom still doesn’t know how to make tamales because my abuela still makes them, so I guess we’ll both have to learn. I don’t know if I will ever be a mom honestly, but I still hope to learn to make some for myself.

3. The best hugs in the world.

I remember many times crying, and how her hugs always made me feel better. This doesn’t need any further explanation, except the fact that a mom’s hug is always the best.

4. She will always listen to you.

Going back to me being dumb and idiot, she’ll still always listen to me. However, me being uncomfortable with sharing feelings and being honest with them, it makes it hard to talk about what is going on in my mind. But I know she will always be there if I ever need to talk about something. She’ll always be there to know how I feel, even if it’s through an Odyssey article.

5. She will always want what's best for you.

She’ll yell at me, and she’ll be disappointed at me. But I know for a fact that it’s because she just wants what’s best for you. Apparently it’ a parent-thing to always want a better life for your kids than what you had. So anytime I upset her, I know it’s because she just wants me to do better. She wants me to be the happiest I can be.

All these are reasons of why a mom is amazing. However, I don’t think we should forget that some parents can be toxic. Just because your mother is the person who gave you life, it doesn’t mean that you should necessarily enjoy being with them or be grateful for them if all they do is attack you. We all deserve a mom who cares for you and wants what is best for you. They don’t always have to be blood-related.

They should just want you to be happy.

Once again, I don’t know if I will ever be a mom. But if I am one day for some reason, I hope that I can be as strong and amazing as my mom is for me.