I decided to do a little social experiment this week.

I asked my Facebook friends: “What did your mom do that you either cherished or disdained when you were growing up?”

Their answers made me laugh and reflect.

I’m guilty of doing some of the same things they complained about. Namely, the inability or lack of desire to cook as well as letting bad words escape my mouth.  Except those traits came from my dad, not my mom.  The ol’ guy also taught me how to hit anything thrown across the strike zone, so I forgive him.

Other common mom offenses: forcing church attendance; plotting out torturous punishments; pushing mandatory piano lessons; washing faces with spit; hoarding money; and forgetting really important things.

My favorite was submitted by a family member who shall remain nameless.

In response to things she will never do to her own daughter, she said:

“Sending her to any school-sponsored activity or field trip without enough money to buy ANYTHING! Yep, I was that kid. Mom would send us to the zoo with like $2.75 and tell us to have a great day. You can’t buy a square of toilet paper at the zoo for $2.75!”

For every negative thing, there were twice as many positive comments.

For example, everyone whose mom cooked and subsequently forced the family to sit down together at meal time was forever grateful to have been given the opportunity.

My friends viewed their moms as their biggest supporters. Whether it was displayed through loving, hand-written notes tucked away in school lunches, by dropping everything at a moment’s notice whenever needed, or by never missing an important moment in the life of their child, moms taught a valuable lesson of placing the needs of others over one’s own.

I know that a handful of my friends no longer have their moms around and many wish she was still here to hold their hands or give words of advice.

I went through a rough period a few years ago when I thought we might lose my mom. I often questioned how I would survive without her. I concluded that I would have to survive for my own kids, but my life and sense of security would never be the same.

Because, after all, mom is everything…whether or not we even realize it. Take time today to let your mom know how much you appreciate her, in person or in prayer.

According to Owen: Best thing about mom? When she attends my games. Worst thing? Making me do dishes ALL THE TIME (even though he splits this chore with his brother).

According to Austin: Best thing about mom? Back tickles at night. Worst thing? Spankings. (Even though I overheard him tell his brother, “Mom’s spankings don’t even hurt,” when he didn’t know I was listening.)

Jaycee loves mom’s hugs and dislikes spankings. Mom dislikes bad behavior and loves Jaycee.

Heidi Woodard is married with three children. Read her Thursdays on momaha.com.