25 People Share the Things They Admire the Most About Their Moms

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We know we don't need a special day to celebrate our moms, but since we have Mother's Day, we might as well take advantage, right? This holiday means something different to everyone, just like all of our mothers deserve praise for different reasons. In the spirit of the holiday, we asked 25 people what they admire the most about their mamas. And if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that we don't deserve them.

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"I can't choose just one thing I admire the most about my mom because I admire all of her. Her strength, her discipline, how incredibly smart she is, how beautiful inside and out she is, how she's managed to work extremely hard in a field dominated by men, earn their respect, and reach a position of power. How she has always been a mom to me, but learned to also be a friend I can rely on and someone I can trust and call whenever I need a pep talk, advice, or just reassuring words that everything will be all right. I admire how she excels in everything she does: she's the best mom, an excellent wife, successful in her job, active with her social life, and manages to give back to her community. I seriously don't know how she does it all, and I hope one day I can become at least half the woman she is." — Maria

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"My mom has always been tough — but through her tough love, I've learned to constantly better myself, recognize my own worth, and appreciate the value of great work ethic. She's the only person in the world who knows me better than I know myself, who recognizes and reminds me of my full potential even when I struggle to see it, and who carries a level of wisdom behind her to see beyond nearly anything and guide me toward what's truly best. Despite all her own talents and interests, she's sacrificed so much of her own life for the sake of me and our family and has been the unwavering rock that's helped us all get to where we are today. Her humility, diligence, and dedication have always been a huge inspiration to me, and I wouldn't be half the person I am now without her. Love you, Mom!" — Sabrina

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"It's inevitable that whenever my mom is on a trip, hosting friends and family over the holidays, or even if it's just the two of us sitting on the couch watching a British murder mystery, she will at some point say, 'OK, I'm having fun now!' It's her signal that the stress of planning is over and the time to relax and enjoy company has commenced. It doesn't have to be some momentous occasion, it can simply be buckling our seat belts on the plane and looking out the window in eager anticipation of what's to come or cheers-ing our cocktails at a cute restaurant we stumbled into. So often we are just go, go, go, in the hamster wheel of life; my mom's exclamation is a reminder to smile, breathe, set aside distractions, and soak in the moment with the people you care about." — Tara

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"Every day, my mom proves to me aging doesn't mean losing your edge. I admire her edgy sense of humor, her passion for trying new things, and the fact that she's always willing to fly across the country to accompany me to a rock concert." — Nancy

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"No one can make me feel better quite like my mom. Even as an adult, there are days when I just want a hug from my mom. My family always jokes that I'm slowly turning into her, which I often roll my eyes at, but secretly I want to be just like my mom when I have kids. She did such an amazing job instilling a sense of right and wrong and loyalty to my friends and family in me. She always makes me laugh, and even when we argue (which is probably because we're so similar), we can be talking about our favorite show or going shopping or taking a selfie two minutes later. I admire my mom so much and all the things she does for our family. I couldn't ask for anyone better." — Amanda

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"My mom, Kathy, is the strongest, bravest, most resilient, kind, smart, and unapologetically real person I've ever met. And while I admire all of these incredible qualities, the one I might love the most is that my mother is the most helpful person on the planet. She never sits back but instead always offers a hand. If I need help doing something or figuring out how to do something, I know to call my mom. She immediately drops what she's doing to help me out, whether that means traveling to come see me, meeting me somewhere, taking me to a place, or just finding me what I'm looking for. From planning out a backpacking trip through Europe and furniture shopping for a new apartment to taking her car to DC for the weekend and hiking a mountain in Banff, Canada, there are countless things I wouldn't have ever been able to do without my mom. And I couldn't be more thankful for her! Love you, Mama!" — Amy

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"What I truly admire most about my mom is that she has always encouraged me to be my own person. Even though she hasn't agreed with all my ideas and plans throughout the years, she consistently allows me to live the life I choose, without judgment. It's been such a blessing to grow up knowing I am supported and loved exactly as I am, and it has allowed me to love and accept others in a more unconditional way as well." — Jessica

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"My mother immigrated from Iran to the United States when she was just 23 years old to escape oppression. She traveled across the world, away from her family, determined to not only give herself a better life but to ensure her future children a life filled with opportunity. To leave your family, your friends, and your home and start over in a country where you don't speak the language takes immense strength. Today, I am the same age as my mother when she left home. I am pursuing my passion because my mother has given me the greatest gift of all – freedom." — Rayna

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"I'm always in awe of my mom's ability to juggle so much with such grace and poise. On top of her full-time job as a badass pathologist, she somehow balances being a personal therapist and advice-giver to my brothers and me (certainly no easy feat!), maintaining strong friendships, traveling for work conferences, wrangling family members for get-togethers, staying involved with the church, and preparing home-cooked meals almost every night — all with a smile on her face and no complaints in sight. She's my twin, best friend, and ultimate role model." — Victoria

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"I wish there were enough words in any language to describe what I admire about my mother, but they simply don't exist. My mom is the most supportive human I've ever known, not just for me (her only child) but for everyone. Raising a first-gen kid comes with its own trials and tribulations, and there were (and still are) countless times I've asked her for advice on things I know she hasn't experienced, but she never misses a beat and always knows exactly what to say. She's always taught me to not only be proud of my strengths but also to embrace my weaknesses because they make me whole. She works tirelessly and never complains and is always quick to remind me of my blessings and takes nothing for granted. She's faced more hardships than I can ever imagine, and yet her number-one parenting lesson to me has always been to learn to be a woman without losing the girl in me because life should be fun. She is my best friend, and I'm thankful I get to go through life being her kid." — Zareen

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"My mother died when I was 18, but what I will always admire most about her was her absolute love for and commitment to living. Thinking about her makes me think of color and good food and laughing and just all the best things of life, because those were the things she treasured most. She spent months and years of her youth traveling and doing crazy sh*t (sorry, Mom) that not many people have the courage to do in their life. She loved the outdoors and was permanently tanned and wrinkled (she would forgive me for saying so) from spending her lunch breaks at the pool swimming every day for years. She ran into people she loved and laughed with no matter how far we traveled. She covered our walls with art and ate popcorn for dinner at least once a week because she liked it, and she cooked the best meals in the world, mostly without recipes but never without lots and lots of flavor. She was passionate about everything and was so deeply invested in the best of life, and for that I will always admire her and be thankful for her and love her." — Bryce

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"This might sound strangely specific, but I love how judgmental my mom can be about cooking. She never cut corners while preparing food for us as kids — full-on omelets and smoothies for breakfast on school days, homemade dinner together every night (I'm talking macaroni and cheese with $50 worth of cheese in there), and desserts always made from scratch. I've been craving boxed cake and fast food during my pregnancy, and though she's trying to be supportive, I can feel her judgment over the phone . . . and it's weirdly comforting. To each their own, but I know her high standards will encourage me to be an even better mother." — Maggie

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"Do you ever look at a person and wonder how they could possibly be so strong, selfless, loving, and kind, all at the same time? Me too, every time I look at my mom. I could write an entire novel filled with all the reasons why I admire my her, and yet it would never come close to fully articulating how special of a person my mom is. She's always there, no matter what, whenever you need her. She's the most selfless human I've ever met. And through all of the ups and downs in life, she's always the strong, loving, resilient pillar of our family. Simply put, she's the best person that I know. I'm so grateful, every single day, that I get to call her my mom and my best friend." — Kristin

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"She has taught me how to feel beautiful in my most natural state without saying a word. Just by watching her over the years, my idea of beauty has aligned with hers, despite all the images I see constantly in the media." — Sarah

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"My mom is so much more than just my mother; she's my best friend, my biggest supporter, and my role model. She is hard-working, she always puts others before herself, and she loves unconditionally. There are so many reasons why I admire her, but I find it most admirable that she raised me as a single parent, she helped care for my great-grandmother in her old age, and she's a breast cancer survivor. I am so lucky to have such a strong woman like her to look up to." — Kelsie

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"My mom is the most selfless and hard-working person I've ever met. Even after a long day at work as a preschool teacher, she puts all her time and effort into taking care of our family and making sure that we always feel supported and loved. I am especially grateful to her for teaching me to always believe in myself and to go after my dreams. I know I can always talk to her about anything and I am beyond proud to have a mom like her." — Chanel

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"What I admire most about my mom is her willingness to give. She's the kind of woman who still volunteers for the school PTA (even though all of her children have long since left the district), who sends her signature cookies to celebrate every accomplishment (I got a double batch when I started at POPSUGAR!), and who's always willing to spend 45 minutes with me on the phone as I try get a stain out of my white duvet (of course, she had the answer). She's never too busy to say yes to a community volunteer opportunity, proofread an essay, or listen to a complaint about the weather. It's truly astonishing how much she manages to do for our family in a single day, all while running her own business . . . and making time to cook for our extremely allergy-prone dog. I'll never stop being in awe of that." — Riyana

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"My mom has always been an inspiration to me and a pillar of strength and perseverance. She went to school a couple years ago to become a nurse and soon she will have her diploma and her certification. She has worked incredibly hard and studied for hours to make her dream of becoming a nurse come true. She is proof that if you work hard for something, no matter who you are or where you are in life, you can achieve your goals. I am incredibly honored to be her daughter and so thrilled to see my mom grow and succeed. I am proud of her and inspired by her every single day." — Maya

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"I admire my mom's sunny personality and unwavering love for her family. She has an effortless way of making everyone around her smile, radiating youthful energy, and staying consistently true to herself. She's always been beyond supportive of my siblings and me growing into the best versions of ourselves. A lot can change in 10 years — at age 16, these were the things that drove my angsty teenage-self crazy! Fast-forward to today, and the same traits make me so proud to be her daughter." — Andrea

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"My mom is fierce, fearless, and has always marched to the beat of her own drum. She's not afraid to speak her mind — even when she disagrees with you — and taught me by example what it means to be a strong, confident, independent woman. She takes joy in the little quirks that make us unique and showed me that it's OK to be weird. My mom is a leader — in our family and even in my childhood Girl Scout troop — and has always inspired me to follow in her footsteps." — Annalise

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"What I admire most about my mom is her incredible sense of self-worth and self-improvement. Sure, she can sound like a motivational speaker sometimes, but she is on a constant journey of becoming the best version of herself every day, and it inspires me to do the same. She may not be a perfect person, but in my eyes she's as close as it gets. She's my best friend and forever number-one fan, and I couldn't ask for anything more! Love you, Mami!" — Charisandra

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"Although I appreciate my mom's support in all the big moments, what I really admire is her commitment to the little things. She acknowledges the small victories with sweet notes or a cookie drop-off. She remembers when you're stressed about an upcoming event, and she's right there with a text and the words you needed to hear. Even with five kids and eight grandkids, she manages to keep track of what matters most to each of us and be there even when she can't be there." — Laura

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"My mum has always been a strong and intelligent woman and an inspiration to my sister and me. She started her own company and successfully grew it while raising the two of us. She inspires me every day by the way she managed to break so many gender norms in a patriarchal society. She is always there for me, and I owe everything that I have accomplished to her. I love her with everything that I have." — Zara

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"My mom is the epitome of strength and ambition. She stopped at nothing to achieve her goals: going to college, attending grad school, and eventually getting her PhD, all while being married and having a young child. Throughout my life, that also included spearheading charities and events, running for (and winning!) a local alderman race, and standing up for herself in the workplace, all with a sharp sense of humor. She has gracefully balanced both work and family life, never letting us feel like she was anything less than 100 percent there for us. She's also the most selfless person I know: she constantly makes sure other people are taken care of and feel appreciated. She has continued to be an excellent role model for my sister and me, and I constantly strive to carry her grace, kindness, and generosity with me." — Christina

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"My mom is my inspiration in all facets of life. Not only is she my best friend, but she inspires me on a daily basis with what she strives for in a career and in a relationship. Her values have set the bar for what I strive for in life. It's hard to even put into words how much I admire her, but I know that if I'm ever having a bad day or need advice, she'll drop what she's doing to make sure I'm OK. I'm eternally grateful for our incredibly close relationship, and I hope that one day I'm able to be half as good as a mother (or person) as she is!" — Perri