With May upon us and Mother’s Day coming up soon, we thought we would celebrate all the contributions made by those wonderful moms in our lives. Studies show that the better our relationships with our mothers, the better our lives in general. Sons who have great mother-son relationships are more likely to go on to successful, loving relationships in their own lives. Daughters are more likely to master the skills of motherhood.

Science has proven that those of us who are lucky enough to have a wonderful mother, literally have a better brain because it! Those children who benefit from early nurturing develop a larger hippocampus, the part of our brains responsible for memory, stress responses and learning, according to a recent study. Additional studies have shown students who have a caring, supportive mother at home perform better on tests, and are less likely to suffer from depression or act out.

Our mothers not only nurture and protect, but inspire us as well. There is no greater cheerleader than a mother. Famous soccer player Diego Maradona is quoted as saying “My mother thinks I am the best. And I was raised to always believe what my mother tells me.” Many famous athletes, politicians and actors credit their success in life to their mothers’ love and encouragement. The unconditional and undying love of our mothers is one of the greatest gifts. Perhaps Abraham Lincoln said it best, “All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”