I can’t really remember my birthday ever falling on Mother’s Day before. It certainly didn’t happen the year I was born (although that’s how it worked for my cousin – we have a lot of May birthdays in the family).

But I couldn’t be happier to share this day with my mom. Because really, kid’s birthdays should be a celebration of their parents more than themselves anyway.

My mom is one of the raddest people I know. I’m lucky to have inherited a number of her qualities, through nature or nurture. She has played a huge part in making me the person I am today, and I am extremely thankful for that. She raised four kids and somehow made us all into incredibly special people. It truly is the toughest job out there.

And look, she even used to make us all special cakes for our birthdays: