Ann: When I was younger I lost a twenty dollar bill and I was upset about it. My mom told me not to worry about it because someone else would find it, and it would make their day. Before I left for college, she bought me a bubble machine and told me to turn it on if I ever felt sad. That’s why I love my mom. She is an unstoppable optimist. When I grow up I want to be just like her.

Pam: I love my mom because she is the only person in the world who understands everything about me. I can tell her anything without feeling judged. My mom’s unconditional love and support has given me a solid foundation to grow and learn. My mom has more wisdom than most, and I know I can always count on her for advice. She has always believed in me and all my dreams and done everything in her power to ensure my happiness.

Steve: To say I love my mother wouldn’t do justice to the affection I feel toward the woman who made me the individual I have become. She is the most selfless person I have ever known and lives through the accomplishments of her children. Knowing she is proud of me means more than any compliment I could ever receive. To her, I owe everything.

Pat: I love my mom because no matter how badly I screw up, I know I can always turn to her. She has always been the most supportive and encouraging person I’ve known, and I can’t imagine where my sister or I would be without her.

Katie O’Connell: If I wrote something sappy about how great my mom is, she would probably just pretend to vomit. And that’s what I love most about her, her personality. Luckily, she passed it on to me.

Karis: My mom knows me better than I know myself. Sometimes that can be annoying (she can always call my bluff), but her love and advice have shaped me into the strong, independent woman I am today. She’s my best friend and my confidante.

Katie Foody: I’ve said it at least 50 times before, but my mom’s hands are the best demonstration of how much she cares for people, especially her family. They’re in constant motion – whether she’s soothing a sick son or daughter, making phone calls, organizing the car pool or caring for patients as a nurse, she has served as the best example for me and my siblings of serving as a caretaker.

Susan: Whether it was pulling my hair into a perfect bun for my ballet recitals, cheering me on at every tennis match or making sure my fridge is stocked in my college apartment, my mom has always been there for me. And now, when she comes down to visit for Mom’s Weekend, she is no longer just my mom, she is one of my very best friends.

Angelina: My mother is a BAMF. She instilled in my sister and myself the core belief that we should never let anyone else’s needs come before our own. My mom inspires me to become an independent, strong and inspiring woman who can combat anything the world throws her way, and as my sister and I complete this transformation, she becomes more and more our best friend.

Marguerite: Thirty words are not enough to explain why I love my mom. She is the most creative, selfless and caring person I know. No matter how many fights we get in, I know she will always be by my side, loving me unconditionally. I love her because she made the person I am today.

Andrew: For never doubting my abilities and always loving me. For always putting my sisters and I before herself. For instilling in me a healthy dose of skepticism and common sense that guides my life today. And for never, ever, ever being anything but the most caring person in my life.