When I was little, I had a lot of favorite bedtime stories (i.e. “Harold and the Purple Crayon”, “Little Blue and Little Yellow” and many more) – but one of my all-time favorites was “What Mommies Do Best” (which, when you flipped it over, was also “What Daddies Do Best”).

The book featured illustrations of different mother/child scenarios – i.e. “Mommies can help you make a garden grow,” “Mommies can help you bake a delicious cake for your birthday,” etc. Though it was a simple story, I have fond memories of reading it with my parents before bed and falling asleep to my Barbie music box (that played “Feelin’ Groovy” by Simon and Garfunkel).

Imagine what the book would be like if it were created in 2017. “What Mommies Do Best” was published in 1998, a.k.a. the pre-smartphone, pre-everyone-is-gluten-free era. A more modern version would probably include bits like, “Mommies can make the best vegan meals,” “Mommies can find great recipes on Pinterest” and “Mommies can show you a YouTube video on how to make a garden grow.”

The little moments outlined in this children’s storybook only scratch the surface of what my mom does best.  My mom has done and continues to do so much for me, and I am thankful for all the laughs and lessons – not just from her, but from both of my grandmas and all of the other influential women in my life. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve decided to create my own version of “What Mommies (and Nanas and Grammies) Do Best.”

1. Mommies will tell the best stories and give the best advice.

All time spent with my mom is special (whether we’re in the car, cooking or catching up on terrible Bravo TV shows). I will always cherish my mom’s words of wisdom and stories of all sorts.

2. Nanas will encourage you to do what you love.

I attribute my love for art and design (and for being the token craft/stationery-freak among my friends) to my Nana, who was a talented artist and an amazing woman. She always encouraged my brother and I to pursue artistic endeavors, and I’m thankful that she was a huge supporter of everything we did.

3. Grammies will light up your world with laughter (and matzo-ball soup).

I have my Grammy to thank for my curly hair (of course, straightened in this picture) and for making every lunch date – from Corky and Lenny’s to Taza – an adventure. I love her sense of humor and the quotable moments we have shared.

4. Mommies will cook the very best food (made with love – and sometimes tofu).

No matter the ingredients (hello, nutritional yeast), my mom is an expert chef and can put a healthy spin on almost any Ina Garten recipe known to mankind.

5. Mommies bond with you over things that hardly anyone else understands.

Does anyone else get this excited about grocery stores?

6. Mommies will dance like nobody is watching (and will encourage you to do the same).

Sure, moms do things like sing and dance in the car – but instead of rolling our eyes, it’s almost always more fun to embrace the moment and join in.

---

Happy Mother’s Day to my mom (and all other moms reading this)!

Love,

Darcy