I always remember a male colleague saying that me and a friend must 'admire' Margaret Thatcher for 'everything she'd done for women.' We nearly choked on our lunch.
For me, real heroines tend to be those women who have done something truly exceptional for other women.
So it goes without saying I admire my mum and sister, just as I did my grandmother. I also have great respect for many of my friends, particularly those who have had more than their fair share of challenges. And anyone who has had to struggle against the odds to raise their family.
But there are so many other mums I admire.
Sarah Brown I think is pretty awesome – the way she’s coped with everything life has thrown at her, and she seems to work tirelessly for charity. 
Angelina Jolie. Not because she won the heart of Brad Pitt (!), but because of the way she’s used her celebrity for the greater good.
And of course the Blogladesh mums.
What about you? Which mums do you admire, and why? I’d love to know.
written by Liz Jarvis