mother is someone who will:
Be there when you are in need
Call you out for your BS
Help you up when you are down
Kiss your boo boo when it hurts
Guide you in the direction you should go but not lead, that is for you alone
Lead by example, even if it means using a hammer to get the garbage men to do their job
Show you the proper way to do things like clean a bathroom or a house so you are ready to go out into the world
Teach you how to cook, this is more than boiling water
Help you follow your passion, even if they know nothing about it
Ask the questions that others may not
Sometimes take very vague answers as to where are you going (Out) and just smile
Show you the meaning of never give up
Love you unconditionally regardless of how bad you screw up
I wrote this about two and a half years ago after my mother had passed.
It seemed like a good day to post this.
Maybe someday I will tell the story about the garbage men and the hammer.