There was a time when the only mother I knew and had a close relationship with was my own mum. Today, I'm surrounded, in all parts of my life, by more mothers -- each one special and unique in her own way -- than I ever imagined. Our web team at Canadian Living is made up of supermoms: Jenn has two precious little boys, and Helen is a devoted mom to her sweet (and very entertaining) four-year-old. They, along with my friend Grace, entertain me with stories featuring their kids almost everyday! And they all have their own unique personalities. I also sit next to a soon-to-be first time mom, and I report to the mom of a 23-year-old. She calls me 'Grasshopper' and I call her 'Guru.' She reminds me a lot of my own mother, in fact. It's nice to have that in the office. If I expand to the rest of our editorial team, there are even more moms -- some to tiny tots and some to teens and fully grown adults. Many of my dearest friends became new mothers in the past year, and watching their journey with their little ones makes my heart swell with love and awe. There's no doubt -- being a mother is no cakewalk. But if there's one thing these fantastic women have in common it's this:  Being a mom means being love. [caption id="attachment_15687" align="aligncenter" width="422"] Photo by Jennifer Gruden
Jenn took this photo of her kitchen table today: Flowers from a Mother's Day event; her son's lunchbox; her son's toys, and a copy of our June 2013 issue. I don't know about you, but this made me smile![/caption]   Over the years I've learned a few things from the moms in my life that I'd like to share with you. These 10 insights really stuck with me and I hope to keep them in mind for when I have my own children someday. . Always make time for your children. Make sure they know you will always put them first. Take time to attend events, whether they are school races, art fairs or even afternoon tea dates at your child's daycare. Trust that these are all equally important. . Offer experiences over gifts. Give your children the opportunity to create beautiful memories by trying new activities together. Schedule dates -- even to the playground. These moments will stay with them a lot longer than a trendy new toy truck or gadget. . Give them a reason to laugh. Whether you're chasing them around the house while playing tag, or simply tickling them till they're in stitches, there's no better sound in the world than that of a child's laughter. . Always have your iPhone or other recording devices on hand. In the age of technology, collecting footage for memories (or even to potentially be used as blackmail at a later date) has never been easier. . Kids say the darnedest things. And when they do, make sure to tell your friends at the office. They could use a good laugh as well. . No matter how old your children get, if you play your cards right, a certain look from you will speak more than any amount of words. "It's the Mom look," says one of my colleagues. "They know what it means." . Learn to say no to your kids once in a while -- you'll actually be doing them a favour. We live in a "no" world, and as bad as it sounds, it's the truth. It's important to teach children from a young age that throwing temper tantrums won't always get them what they want. . It's okay to make mistakes. This isn't just part of being a mom or a parent, this is part of being human. No one is perfect and there's no set formula to life. Make it your mission to raise a happy and healthy child and everything else will work itself out. . Encourage your child to tell stories. There's nothing greater than a child's imagination. I'm always amazed when I speak to children because the stories they come up with are so awesome! I wonder what happens to us as we get older to lose that imaginative edge... . Finally, and most importantly, let your child know they are loved. There hasn't been a day in my life when I've questioned my  mother's love. The best gift she ever gave my brother and me was the feeling of unconditional love and security. We always knew that even if things became terrible in our lives or if it felt like the world was falling to pieces outside, our mother would always make us feel safe and loved. Today, we're fully grown adults, and I can tell you without a doubt, the same fact still applies. Quite simply, our mom is love. Happy Mother's Day to all the inspiring moms in my life, and thank you for all the lessons you've taught (and continue to teach) me. xo