Happy Birthday Mum! 60 years and still as fabulous as ever. As many of you know, my mum is my best friend. She is my hero in many ways. She gets up every single day and looks after me and my whole family. She always has done. Jane Davison is a legend and she is turning sixty today (don’t kill me for saying your age mum!). 

Mum, I want you to know that you are incredible. From lifting me out of a cot to lifting me up every day now. You know how to make us all smile. You know how to make our family survive. You have been a rock to us all. You know what to do, say and how to behave with us all. Each in our own ways. You smile in the hardest of times. You have become both a mum and a dad to us all in the past two years. 

As someone who shares my love of Disney, you couldn’t have been happier when I said I wanted to start embracing my inner child again. When I can’t handle a certain day, you snuggle up with me and make sure that I get through it. In fact, I keep battling my illness because of you. The past few years have been some of the hardest for you. 

You have lost the love of your life. You have had to see me in the hospital. Visiting all the time. You have accepted your son back into your home. You have been a grandmother to all of your grandchildren, helping them all as much as you can. I honestly can’t thank you enough for everything you do. I can’t give you enough to say thank you. I honestly can’t celebrate you enough. 

Yet, I can shower you in love. I can make sure that you are well looked after. I can make sure that people know that you are brilliant. You never truly see what happens behind closed doors, but I will give you all a little inside look into our home. I try every single day from the moment I get up to help my mum as much as I can. I know for a fact I can be hard work. Especially if it is a day in which my illness and anxiety takes over. Yet, she never moans. She never allows me to give up. She tells me the truth, because we made a promise we always would, but she never makes me feel small. 

My mum is the real backbone of our family. For years, no one has done and still does as much as her. She gets up at 4am every day, goes to work, comes home and cares for us all. She does odd jobs for those around her, always offering to help others when she can. I know the change happening is worrying for her too, but she is trying to not show it. I have witnessed her get angry at the treatment that has caused it all. I have seen her smile then cry about it. Yet, she is seeking the good in all of it, because she only wants to see the best for us. Something she has done for years and years. For me, my grandad, my dad, my niece and nephews, my brothers and more.

People who try to put her down never will. She is too strong and we will not let them. Yes, it is easy to say that my mum is the best there is. Because she is. But what I really want to say is that she is a superhero. A real one. We praise the people we see on screen, failing to thank those who are actually there for us. 

Therefore, I am thanking her today. I am thanking her for her love, patience and kindness. I don't care if it is cheesy. I don't care what people think. If the past two years have taught me anything, it is to tell people that you love them, because you never know what is around the corner. I love you mum and am thankful for everything you do! I hope you have a fantastic birthday and turn sixty in style. 

Love you forever and always! 

Joey X