I have been celebrating Mothers Day since I was pregnant in 2011 with my son Jacob.
I was three month's pregnant and my partner Alan gave me a Mother's Day card with an 'Almost!' scribbled in pen on the front.
It was such a lovely touch and compounded my excitement in finding out that I was a mammy-in-waiting.
Tomorrow will be my sixth 'official' Mother's Day this weekend, and as with every other year, I take a moment to recount all the ways that I feel lucky to be a mother in Ireland in 2017.
1. Everyone is well
I have two healthy and happy kids. They have all the sniffles and pukes and upsets that everyone else has, but they are generally fit and healthy. What more could we ask for?
2. We have an equal-share household
Alan is so hands on with the kids that we have been striking a great balance in this past year. While we spend as much time as possible together as a family, we also cover each other if we need some time out for ourselves.
3. We have food on the table
While news stories abound of more and more Irish families struggling to make ends meet, we are more than grateful to be able to work and provide for our family and our kid's futures.
4. I have my own mammy too
Some of my closest friends have mums who have passed, and when Mother's Day comes around, I am always reminded of them and of how lucky I am to get to celebrate it with my own mam. She and I have no hesitation in treating ourselves for the occasion and are off for facials this weekend.
5. We are at peace
Ireland might be a frustrating place to live at times, and we can all get pretty riled up about the government, taxes, the cost of living etc; but when you consider what's going on Internationally - the US, Syria, London - you realise that we could be way worse off in many respects.
6. I know 'those' cards are coming
If I could have a handmade card on Mother's Day for the rest of my life, I would be a very happy woman. Three years ago, Jacob made a picture of me in school (he was two and a half) - I have yellow knitting wool for hair, one blue eye on my forehead and one green eye somewhere around my chin. It is hysterical. I can't wait to see what he comes up with this year.
7. My kids love me
I am in no doubt whatsoever that my kids love me. I get the best of hugs, kisses, gobbeldy-gook chats about god knows what, told that 'I love you 8,000' (I don't know what that means but it sounds like a lot) from my five-year-old and really, there ain't no better thing in this world.
What are you grateful for as a mama this year? Let us know in the Facebook comments.
