With Mother’s Day on Sunday I wanted to take this opportunity to let the world know about my mother.

When I was younger my mother did everything she could do to keep me healthy, which was not always easy, or cheap. She did her best to give me what I wanted along with what I needed. She has loved me unconditionally and without question, she has stood behind my desisions, right or wrong. She has encouraged me to do things I wanted to do and reassured me on the things I was not sure of.

As I have gotten older we have grown closer, she’s accepted my husband as her own son — even though he is a Cardinals fan. She is a wonderful and devoted grandmother to my kids and has an active interest in their well being.

She has become my confidant, my therapist and my reality checker. She’s my shopping partner, my lunch date, and at times my personal banker. She is the first call in the morning and the last at night, she’s my best friend and most importantly she’s my mother; she is Margaret Bailey.

If I can be half the mother she’s been and continues to be, my kids will be in good hands. So today I’d like to tell her thank you for being you, I’m proud to call you Mom and I love you to the ends of the earth.

Stacey Ingle

Ottumwa