The best gift my mother gave me (besides siblings) was a college education. She acted as my unofficial guidance counselor, coach and mentor. She did all of this as professionally as any professional I have ever met. She realized the importance of college because she was born during the depression, went to high school during World War II and did not get the gift of a college education herself.

The best Mother's Day gift I gave my mother was graduating from college. It was such a popular gift, I did it five times. She was there every time, which sometimes meant sitting in an auditorium on Mother's Day.

If your mother pushed you toward college, thank her. Because of her actions, you are more likely to earn a minimum of $20,000 per year more than you would have without a college education. Because of her, your children and grandchildren are more likely to attend college as well. There is a wide body of research that shows the far-reaching impact of a college education on a family. College raises the standard of living and health of a family for generations. Happy Mother's Day!