Mother's day doesn't have to be just for mothers. Or even just for women

The great singer Phoebe Snow died this week. And in reading her obituary I was struck most by what a fantastic mother she was. 

Ms. Snow put her career on hold to care for her daughter, Valerie Rose Laub, who was born with severe brain damage. Her husband left soon after Valerie's birth, leaving Ms. Snow to raise her daughter alone. 

Ms. Snow could have put Valerie in a home, as many advised her to do. But she refused. She took jobs singing jingles, she virtually quit touring...all to dedicate herself to her daughter and self described 'best friend.'

That's some mother.

Sunday, May 8th, is Mother's Day. A time when we all thank our own mothers.

But what about mothers like the late Ms Snow? Whose own child was unable to ever make a card out of construction paper, or a necklace out of macaroni. She may have loved to get a card, just once, thanking her for being such a great mom.

So this Mother's Day I'm making a suggestion to all HSLI fans and everyone else. How about saying thanks to someone whose motherly qualities you admire? It could be your babysitter. It could be your cat sitter. Maybe like me, you had a grandfather who out-mothered everybody with homemade blueberry pancakes every Sunday. 

Maybe it's a sister, a neighbor, an auntie, the receptionist at your dentist's office who always calls you "honey" and gives you a spare toothbrush.

Take a moment and tell them "thanks for making feel cared for." Thanks for being like a mother to me.