Jackson Free Press

This Sunday, we take time to honor our mothers. One day a year can't possibly do justice to the work of a mother, but it does give us one day a year to spend doing what mom wants.

Mothers are a big part of sports as well. Put a camera in front of athletes and you can usually hear the words "Hey Mom!" before the camera cuts away.

My mother was a stay-at-home mom who raised six kids on my father's salary. Dad used to joke that mom could pinch a penny till it screamed.

Mom not only did house work, helped us with our homework, fixed all of our problems, cooked dinner and more, but she was also my biggest supporter and fan when it came to sports.

Win or lose. Rain or shine. No matter if it was hot or cold outside.

I always knew my mother would be there supporting me. If she wasn't at a game, it was because she was at home taking care of my brothers and sisters so my dad could be there for me. Mom was always there to wipe the tears away when we lost. She was always there to give me motivation.

I remember once, my team hadn't won a football game in two years. Most of the games weren't even close. (Getting beat 63-0 for three straight weeks? That hurts.)

After the season, I couldn't help it. I cried. I cried because I hated losing. I cried because I wanted to win for Mom and Dad.

My mother let me have my moment and told me if I didn't want to play next season (my senior year) I didn't have to play. Tricky mom: she knew I wouldn't quit, and I would want to try one last time to win for her.

She watched me run track in the pouring rain, and she left to buy me dry socks for the rest of the track meet. I can remember a million stories that make me smile remembering how my mother took care of me.

Now, in my family, the roles are reversed. My wife goes to work, and I stay at home with our newborn daughter.

I already knew my mother had a hard job, but I am discovering how tough her job really was. My daughter hasn't even learned to crawl, yet, and I wonder how my mom did it all for me--plus five other kids as well.

It doesn't help that our daughter not only has her mother's good looks but her brains as well. That girl already knows she is going to be smarter than her daddy and can get me to do anything for her.

My wonderful wife, Lacey, is a great mom in her own right. She works hard all day and comes home and spends every moment she can with our little girl.

Lacey might be dead tired but she plays, feeds, reads, makes up stories and more with our daughter every night. She can even find time to cook some nights as well as take care of the baby. Lacey is a superhero without the mask and cape in my book.

I know I will be the one to teach our daughter how to throw, kick, catch and anything else you can do with a ball. Lacey will be the mom screaming her head off with words of encouragement no matter how good or bad our girl is 
at sports.

These two women are strong, loving, caring and nurturing mothers. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and Lacey is a working mom, but both do the job as well as the other.

It doesn't matter how a mom does it, what we remember most is what they do for us. The love and support they give us can't be understated, and we can never do enough to pay them back for all their hard work.

Mothers of the world, I salute the job you do, and I know one day doesn't spotlight the work you do near enough every day, week and year. I feel lucky to have two great mothers in my life.

So if I may, let me do the print version of athletes on the sidelines.

"Hi Mom, and I love you."

Lacey, Molly says, "Hi Mom" to you as well.