While I always celebrated the birthdays of my children, when my daughter Lauren reached her teens, she decided that the celebration should last all month long.

Could we do the same for Mother’s Day?

Would it be OK to celebrate the whole month of May?

It will take that long for me to list the women whose mothering skills I admire.

Right at the top is my own mom, Jeanne Keller. Her kindness, gentleness and love are without boundaries.

She’s the quiet balance to my dad’s outgoing and impulsive nature; the role model for every decision I make and the ever-available grandmother to 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

One of the definitions of mother is “to bring up a child with care and affection.”

With that in mind, my list of Mothers I Admire grows.

There are so many people who mother and their impact reaches far past their own families.

They touch the lives of nieces, nephews, students, children of friends and neighbors’ children.

I honor them all for a job well done and applaud their unselfish and often sacrificial gifts of time, energy, love and money.

May God strengthen, energize and fill them to overflowing with His love, joy, peace, mercy, and wisdom.

Happy Mother’s Month!

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.