Mother’s Day is one of those holidays that I never appreciated enough before I became a mom.

In Russia, where I grew up, we didn’t have this holiday, and instead celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th — it was customary to give gifts to your mom on that day, but the whole Communist taste to it made it a lot less personal. I love my mom and am very close with her, but somehow when we moved to America and started to celebrate Mother’s Day, it felt a bit commercial.

But no longer — it’s now one of my favorite holidays. Becoming a mom myself has given be a whole new sense of appreciation and admiration for my mom and grandmothers. It’s also been the most incredible and challenging experience to be a mom to my little girl and you know what, I think this is one holiday when I deserve kisses and hugs and presents.

I know a lot of you are probably nodding as you read this. For many of us, becoming moms has changed our lives and given us new appreciation for our own moms. But on this Mother’s Day I want to tell you guys that this past year of running Work It, Mom! and getting to know many of you has opened my eyes even more to the experience of being a mom. I’ve learned so much from you and I’ve come to admire your strength, your resolve, your energy, your wit, your resilience, your love for your families and your hard work as you juggle a million things in your life.

This sounds a bit too Oprah for a generally cynic like me, but being part of this community has helped me be a better mom and appreciate the magic that comes with being one.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you and a huge THANK YOU for making Work It, Mom! the rockin’ community that it is.