Long days. Tough days. The days you wish you could go back and start over.

Every time, Mom is there. Ready to listen. Ready to help you through it.

And let’s be honest. As young professionals, we rely on our mothers more than we ever thought we would. The job market is stupid crowded, bosses have no idea what to do with our generation and we struggle to grow into adults under the ominous shadow of $1 trillion in student loan debt.

Never has Mom mattered more.

Over Mother’s Day (or any day on the calendar), remember all the career moments when your mom was the shoulder you leaned on most.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! This one’s for you.

9 Critical Times Your Mom is There for Your Early in a Career

1. You’re chewed out by the boss at your first job, and it sucks.

As you choke back tears on the way out of the office at 5 pm, you immediately call your mom and do one of those “You CANNOT believe what happened to me” renditions.

Did you actually screw up at work? Yea, a little. Is your boss also crazy? Yea, a lot. One more reason why you should spend time in a big city.

After the drama went down, you needed to vent. Per usual, your mom is the only person who will truly understand — and take your side.

2. You land your dream job, and your mom is the first person you call.

You can’t believe it — you got the job!

Right away, your mom is the #1 person to hear the news. Why? Because no one else knows what you went through to make this day a reality. Yep, all 17 hard truths about being a recent grad in the real world.

Mom suffered — and then celebrated — right along with you.

3. Your company doesn’t offer health insurance, so your mom lets you stay on her plan.

In fairness, we should also thank President Obama for the 26-and-under rule.

The scenario: you need health insurance. Your company says no can do (maybe the boss keeps you under 30 hours a week). It’s too expensive to afford insurance on your own. So…

“Thanks, Mom…oh, and Dad too!”

4. You don’t earn enough to live on your own so you stay with the ‘rents, rent free.

Yes, the economy has driven us back into our childhood bedrooms in record numbers. But make no mistake: Mom and Dad don’t have to let you live with them post-college.

They do it because they care about you, want to help jumpstart your career and, let’s face it, still like to have you around as long as it lasts.

— Also worth a read: The Official Ground Rules for Moving Back in with Mom and Dad —

5. You finally rent your own apartment. Guess who’s there to lend a hand with the big move?

For hours and hours…and hours, your mom willingly puts away clothes and dishes in the new pad and STILL has energy to schlep with you on a Target/BedBath/grocery whirlwind tour.

You have a pretty great mom. Did you know that?

6. The night before a critical job interview, your mom helps brainstorm what to say.

You’re incredibly nervous. You MUST make a good impression and land this job.

So you and your mom plan out what you’ll say and how you’ll say it (ex: these four insightful questions). She’s 100% supportive the entire time and, the next day, waits anxiously by the phone to hear how it goes.

Win or lose, what would you do without her?

7. You want to negotiate your salary but it’s tricky. You ask your mom for advice.

Mom has been down this road before. Dad, too. They guide you through the negotiation process and explain the smartest way to ask for a raise.

Whew. Glad you asked. That extra 5K will go a LONG way.

8. Your mom will tell it to you straight.

“Your cover letter isn’t good enough.”

“Is this REALLY the job you want?”

“You should learn from today, get better and move on.”

When we need brutal honesty, Mom doesn’t sugarcoat anything. And even though the truth hurts, we listen and put the lesson into practice.

9. Mom is always your #1 fan.

No one believes in you more than your mom. In your 20s, the prospect of a successful career can seem like a pipe dream. But she never loses hope or quits fighting for you. [TWEET THIS]

And with a mom like her in your corner, how can you fail?

Share this post with YOUR mom and let her know what she means to you!

*Note: We capitalize “Mom” when it’s a proper noun, as in “Mom, can I crash at your place tonight?”

We don’t capitalize “mom” when it describes mothers, in general, and not a specific person. Example: “We are lucky to have moms help us with our careers.”

“The more you know”

Featured: gabrielap93 (Flickr)