When it comes to Mother’s Day, it has never come easy to me to figure out what to get my mom. And now, as I am a father, it is even harder trying to figure out what to get my wife, and the mother of our children, on Mother’s Day.

Instead of buying gifts, I have, at times, offered my wife a day off from being mom. Let me take care of the children and the tasks moms all too often take upon themselves.

But, I have quickly learned, that there is never a day moms can just “take off.” They are always moms.

I remember on a recent vacation to New York with Stephanie, we talked about enjoying the time to ourselves, just the two of us. But, in the evening, she would be quick to make a phone call to check on the children. She asked how their day was, was the homework done, did the babies have a good day; you know, the normal stuff.

And while being a mother is never easy (like I would know), at least my mother had my father to help out and my wife has me. For many mothers, they do not have the spousal support to help raise their children.

Far too often families are split, or the father simply is never around.

In Dallas County, the number of single parents is well above both the state and national average.

In 2012, statistics showed 28.79 percent of households in Dallas County were single parent households. The Alabama average in 2012 showed 19.15 percent of households those led by a single parent.

For those who have grown up in a full, loving home, could you imagine? For those who are part of a full, loving home, where both parents are there, offering guidance, discipline and love, could you imagine?

The answer to those questions is likely, no. But, for many in our city, our county and our region, a single parent home is all they know.

It is those homes today, those mothers today, I often think about and remaine amazed at the strength it takes to be a single mother in today’s world.

As for me, there is no doubt in my mind my life would have been significantly different — and not for the better — had it not been for my both my mother and father.

They often balanced each other out, providing what my sister and I needed to be successful in whatever we hoped to do.

To this day, I still value the advice my parents provide and avoid decisions I know would disappoint them; particularly my mother.

It is those things we don’t often remember that prove to be the most important things given to us by our parents.

For me, I might not remember the words my mother used in providing me guidance, but it is the tone and manner in which she did it. I don’t remember the words she used to “urge” me to get my homework or chores done, but it was the fact she cared enough to make me do my homework and my chores I remember the most.

As for my wife, Stephanie, I could easily offer to pick up those things around the house she feels responsible for, but is that really enough? No.

I learned a long time ago when it came to my mother, and now my wife, that it is not the gift but the thought; it is not the things, but the time. So today, on this beautiful Mother’s Day, I take satisfaction in knowing I was able to spend time with both of the best mothers I know, and had the chance to let them know how much they mean to me.