Molly Weasley   From: Harry Potter Add it to your Goodreads shelf.

Why She Made The List:  Do I really need to explain why Molly is the piece de resistance of mothers? Ok…how about the fact that she raised 4 boys! FOUR. For that alone I deem her “Mother of the Century” but that couldn’t possibly be the only reason she tops the list of literary mothers is it? Of course not. How about the fact that her love in unconditional. Not only for HER wild and willy kids but for the whole Hogwarts crew. She opens her home AND her heart on more than one occasion. She also pushes her children to be the best they can be. That might sound a bit trite, but let’s look at the alternative. Would you rather have a mother that ignores you and could give two big flying rats booties what you do from day to day? I didn’t think so. She may punish you from time to time, but chances are you deserved it anyways. Oh and her selflessness… WOW! She doesn’t have much, but she doesn’t complain one iota about it. Quite the opposite in fact. She doesn’t hesitate to lend a helping hand (call someone a bitch) or knit the occasional sweater when necessary. She’s like June Cleaver with magic. The perfect combination.

Quotes “Now, you two – this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you’ve – you’ve blown up a toilet or –” “Blown up a toilet? We’ve never blown up a toilet.” “Great idea though, thanks, Mum.” “You – will – never – touch – our – children – again!” “A good first impression can work wonders”

Mrs. March – Marmee From: Little Women Add it to your Goodreads shelf. Why She Made The List:  While Molly sits pretty at number one raising her four boys, Marmee (as she is belovedly referred) from Little Women is right on her heals at number 2 with four girls! Her best quality? Her amazing ability to stay calm in the face of total chaos. (Burning hair? Love triangles?) Pick any teenage girl dilemma and Marmee battled it. Even more notable? The way she cares, corrals, and insists her daughters remain charitable and gracious regardless of the situation. Even when that situation is dealing with a very sudden heartbreaking illness. (Oh…poor Beth.) She is one mother I would never want to trade places with, but she is definitely a mother I should strive to emulate. Quotes “Don’t let the sun go down upon your anger; forgive each other, help each other, and begin again tomorrow.” “Money is a needful and precious thing–and when well used, a noble thing–but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I’d rather see you poor men’s wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace.”

Esme Cullen From: The Twilight Saga Add it to your Goodreads shelf. Why She Made The List: Despite her need to drink blood to survive, Esme Cullen of the Twilight Saga solidly rounds out the top 3. Why you ask? Well…let’s start with the fact that none of her kids (and I use that word lightly since they are all reaching that 100+ year old mark) are actually hers. Finding herself fanged and childless must have been hard, but Esme made the best of her situation by (basically) adopting herself a gaggle of newbie vampires that had to be trained, chained, and lulled into submission. (We don’t eat people!) And though (from time to time) she must have found herself with a little extra blood on her hands, HER big ol heart was never compromised. Long story short…she wants the best for her children (their happiness) and she is willing to do anything to help them achieve that. Want her to throw down with the baddest of the bad for your soul-mate? No problem. Just give her a second to change out of her Sunday best. She is fierce when need be. She is lovable when least expected. And she probably gives the best advice around town. (Which should be an obvious since she has outlived the town several times over.) Quotes “I hope you haven’t been showing off— it’s rude.” “He’s been the odd man out for far too long; it’s hurt me to see him alone.” “We can’t just murder her in cold blood!”

Penelope From: The Odyssey Add it to your Goodreads shelf. Why She Made The List:  Chances are most of you have overlook Penelope when trying to narrow down your “Awesome Mothers” list, but don’t worry…I’ve got your back. Coming in at number four she makes mothers like Clair Huxtable look like slackers. Loving mother? Check. Faithful wife? Check. Can hand weave 100 doilies in under an hour? Hell yes! Despite the fact that she spends almost the entire novel in her room crying (Can’t say I blame her…everyone she loves dies, AND she has to basically throw an entire days work in the trash each night.) Penelope remains to be one heck of a hug worthy hostess. She is also incredibly cunning, which is a great benefit to not only herself, but to her son Telemachus, who (bless his little heart) lacks maturity. She may not battle evil vampires or comfort a daughter after a particularly rough day, but she will give you a run for your money when it comes to familial dedication. Quotes “…and now again a beloved son is gone on a hollow ship, an innocent all unversed in fighting and speaking, and it is for him I grieve even more than for that other one, and tremble for him and fear, lest something should happen to him either in the country where he has gone, or on the wide sea, for he has many who hate him and are contriving against him and striving to kill him before he comes back into his own country.” “Hear me, dear friends. The Olympian has given me sorrows beyond all others who were born and brought up together with me for first I lost a husband with the heart of a lion and who among the Danaans surpassed in all virtues, and great, whose fame goes wide through Hellas and midmost Argos; and now again the stormwinds have caught away my beloved son, without trace, from the halls, and I never heard when he left me. Hard-hearted, not one out of all of you then remembered to wake me out of my bed, though your minds knew all clearly, when he went out and away to board the hollow black ship. For if I had heard that he was considering this journey, then he would have had to stay, though hastening to his voyage, or he would have had to leave me dead in the halls.”

Marilla Cuthbert From: Anne of Green Gables Add it to you Goodreads shelf. Why She Made The List:  Ok, I know what most of y’all are thinking. Marilla? Are you kidding me? She didn’t even WANT Anne! She wanted a boy, and when Matthew showed up with a girl she wanted to send her packing! I hear ya. Loud and clear. But let’s give Marilla credit where credit is due. Despite her rough tongue and sometimes agressive way of handling things Marilla Loves Anne (with a big ol capital L.) It may take her a while to admit it, and it may take her even longer to show it, but by the time it is all said and done she would be lost without her little girl. Anne’s romantic spirit is the driving force behind Marilla. And Marilla’s brusqueness is Anne’s gravity. Without each-other they just don’t make sense. All that’s missing from this due is Marilla’s closet “you complete me” confession. Quotes “Well I’m glad to see that your dented spirits haven’t injured your tongue.” “Every baby is the sweetest and the best.” “Anne Shirley, I wouldn’t trade you for a dozen boys.”