Hi, Dopers, I had so much fun writing this, and I can’t wait to see what my mom says. I’m certainly glad I’m getting the chance to share a little bit of her with you, and maybe you recognize your own mommas in here. Anyway, feel free to gush poetic or otherwise to your own mothers in this thread. 
To one classy, Southern lady:
You are grace and charm and wit and class incarnate, mom, and I LOVE you with all of my being. I count myself lucky if I ever grow to be HALF the woman you’ve been and continue to be.
You said to me when I was a 12-year-old snot who’d gotten her second editorial denouncing the Social Security Administration’s disrespect of senior citizens published in the local newspaper: “You have a lot of integrity.” Well, I got that integrity from YOU.
You championed me when teachers thought I’d plagiarized my assignments because they thought I wasn’t supposed to be able to write that well at such a young age. I can’t tell you how your belief in me HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.
You worked for 40+ years as a public school teacher and still found time to instill in your kids the value of an education. I marvel at the respect and love I see in grown men and women we chance to meet who remember you taught them and go on to introduce you to their kids and grandkids.
When I was older and you were more arthritic, you said to me: “I’d dig a ditch for you,” and I was floored (still am) by the depth of what you’d do for your kids.
Everytime I’m sick and whiny, instead of getting impatient with your overgrown BABY, you soothe me and say: “Everything’s going to be alright. Mommy loves you.” I don’t think you’ll ever know what a panacea that timbre of love/exasperation in your voice is.
You raised your daughters to be ladies who don’t put up with any kind of shit.
You instilled in your children when we were young the importance of having respect for our elders. (You would have skinned our hides–and sometimes did–for anything less.)
You’ve been my guiding light and my foundation through life’s storms, especially the ones you never knew I weathered.
I’ve fought you at several turns in my quest for independence only to return to you. And as I get older, I see more and more of you in me, and I find that a source of pride and strength.
You buoy me up with the knowledge of your youth and your mother’s youth, of how you and your mother knew how to make people pay you what you were worth and not one penny less. And I take your lessons to heart. I will pass on your priceless legacy.
I do not know how long I have left to know you on this mortal earth, but I know this: You will live on in the many, many hearts your love has touched.
You taught me grace and class (even though I don’t use them near as much as I should) as I watched you accept and display with pride tacky gifts from well-meaning CLODs.
You teach me the nobleness of teaching as I watch you struggle to teach the preacherman how to be a MAN to his wife and child.
I love you because you didn’t laugh, but rather showed me my birth certificate when I asked you if I was adopted.
I love you because you know how to come down off your high horse and play and laugh and be silly with your now-grown kids.
And I love you, even though I know you’re going to kick my ass for posting your business on the internet!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, MOM!