More people should ask my advice about raising children. Seriously.

For years, I wouldn’t have presumed to be an authority on the subject because I was constantly worrying about my mothering capabilities. I incessantly asked myself if I had handled a situation correctly, if I should have done or said something differently, if I should back off. I strongly felt (and still feel) that if you aren’t constantly worrying about your kids, you aren’t doing something right.

I didn’t really have anyone to ask for advice myself.

I gave birth to my daughter a week after I turned 20. None of my friends had children at that age and many of them still don’t. Those who do are in the throes of elementary school, the Jonas Brothers, and pee wee sports.

My daughter’s now the same age I was when I had her.

And that’s why I can now say with some confidence that I’m pretty good at this whole mom thing ... because now I have proof. I’ve managed to produce an exceptional child. She’s never been suspended from school, never received a detention, and the worse comment she ever got on a report card was that she was talkative. (I wonder where she got that trait!)

She’s had very good grades all through high school and won several scholarships; and, she just showed me her college report card for her junior year: 4.0.

She's very talented and plays just about every musical instrument there is. On top of that, she’s quick-witted, compassionate, sensitive, respectful, and polite.

That doesn’t just happen, you know. I’m a firm believer that we get the children we create.

So, I’m fairly comfortable saying now that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to being a mom, and what’s more, I’m really proud of it.

I know that mothers are supposed to be humble and say things like, “Oh, pish, I’m just very lucky. It’s been no trouble at all.” But we all know that’s just not true. Parenting is a lot of work. Hard work. It’s full of worry, sweat, sacrifice, and tears. We put our own needs on the back burner so that our children can have the life we didn’t, and we do it willingly and joyfully.

But that doesn’t mean that we don’t want a little appreciation.

So, on this Mother's Day, please know that the mothers out there are appreciated. You probably don’t hear it every day, but those of us who have walked in your shoes understand what you’re doing and how important it is.

 The most important thing I’ve ever done — or will ever do — in my life is raise my daughter. And I don’t need  a fancy cell phone or diamonds this Mother's Day to remind me of that. I have the best gift a mother can ever get: a happy and healthy child.

Still, a foot massage would be nice too.