So we’re nearing Mother’s Day, and I’ll bet you’re expecting me to start moaning about the horrible commercialism, the over-played expectation of cards, meals out and chocolates aren’t you? writes Emma Suddaby

Well then you’ll be disappointed because Mother’s Day is the one national day I couldn’t possibly argue with. What mother doesn’t deserve a day of recognition and reward, and celebrations in her honour? My mum obviously does, but then she’s the best mum in the world, so she would!

I’m one of the few who can comment, not being a mother myself, so I want to encourage everyone who has one to appreciate how lucky they are.

Where would we be without our mums – apart from not even here in the first place! But really, just think about all the stuff they do, and how little they expect in return.

Mums are the only people really qualified to talk about unconditional love (sorry dads, I’m sure you know the odd thing about it too but mums are just ahead of the game on this one).

My mum has put up with more than most in rearing me, believe me, and she does it with patience, with love and with great tact. Anyone who can smile sweetly at my latest horror of a boyfriend, cook for him, make conversation with him and then, once he’s gone, not tell me exactly what she really thought of him, has all of the above qualities in great abundance!

Because when it comes down to it, all a mother ever wants is to see her child grow into an adult who is happy in whatever form that happiness might take. Anything else is a bonus.

My mum, of course, would love me to produce grandchildren for her to dote on. The closest she’s managed so far is to be my regular, unpaid dog-sitter – and even this she does with good cheer and generosity. As only a mother could!

She helps me out in so many major and minor ways, even now, that I simply don’t know what I’d do without her in my life and I try to remember how lucky I am that she is.

So join me and celebrate the existence of the mum, on Mother’s Day, March 22. And throw yourself into this one folks . . . we all get tired of having to buy yet another card, for this day or that, but no-one deserves a little bit of appreciation more than the mums out there, the real unsung heroines of the dreaded credit crunch.