I am fortunate to have a wonderful mother who lives nearby and is involved in my life and that of my children on a regular basis. I will be honoring her on Mother’s Day. However, there are other women who have been like a mother to me who I will also thank.

They say it takes a village to raise a child and I believe that includes having women other than biological mothers available as role models. Of course, there are many unexpected situations in life that separate biological parents and children and the women who become true mothers are undoubtedly heroines in our world. That is another topic for another day. Today, I’m talking about having one or two other strong women to look to in your life.

I have a friend who is a role model for me. She is a grounded, optimistic lady of 74 years. She has endured great hardship in her life and her resilience shines through. I enjoy our conversations about child-rearing, marriage and daily life. She can’t possibly replace my mother, but she greatly enhances that vital connection between the generation of women that has come before us. Sometimes we can hear the same message more clearly from a woman who doesn’t carry the intense emotional ties of a mother.

I was chatting with a group of my mommy friends the other day and we were talking about just this subject. We know our daughters are already heading into that time in life where we (the moms) become clueless in their minds. We discussed being the voice of reason for the other mother’s daughters. We have done this in small ways already…one mother coaches another mother’s daughter for an audition or gives feedback about a social dilemma. We, as a community of mothers, can reinforce each other’s values and ideas.

So this Mother’s Day…honor your mothers, but also take stock in the other women who are influential in your life. I will be buying a card for my “other mother”…yes, they actually make Hallmark cards for being “like” a mother on Mother’s Day. And start to cultivate those female voices that can be a positive influence on your own children. Do you have a wonderful “other” mother? I’d love to hear from you!