This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a perfect Friday to acknowledge all the mothers in my life. Anyone out there listening who knows my Mom, knows how blessed I am to have a wonderfully loving mother. But here’s the thing, friends, I think because my Mom is so special, she’s managed to attract other extraordinary people into her orbit. And throughout my life, I’ve reaped the benefits of being surrounded by these magical women.

My mother, her friends, my loving aunts—they all mothered me. Whether they knew how intently I was listening or not, they each shared things that helped guide me through the challenges of life. Chats on rainy afternoons in the pool house, cleaning up the kitchen together, sitting around the kitchen table late at night—the stories and experiences that Mom and her friends shared helped raise me, as I know my mom helped to raise their daughters and sons.  

A while back I hired someone to help me with some marketing work for Confessions. I remember being a little thrown off when one of the questions he asked me was: Who is your biggest competitor? My reply, “I don’t compete with other women.” 

Thanks to Mom, I’ve spent a lifetime witnessing the strength, connection, and healing that happens when women come together in communion and friendship. My mom was wonderful one-on-one, of course, but I learned even more of her lessons when she was with her tribe. Why would I ever put myself in a position where my goal was to get ahead of another woman? I’m not in the WNBA. There’s room for everyone in my line of work. In my experience, when women are in competition and comparison, nothing good grows. When women work side by side in support of one another, their growth is unstoppable. 

I have to acknowledge that not everyone listening today was born to a loving parent. But what I’ve seen is that there are incredible mothers all around me, all the time. I just have to listen intently to women who honor, support, and advocate for themselves and other women. Thank you to my beautiful mom and her amazing friends for teaching me exactly what to look for in a mother.

Happy Mama’s Day Ladies!