By Rep. Kristi Noem

For many South Dakota families, including my own, May is one of the busiest months of the year. With graduations, summer sports and upcoming vacations, moms across South Dakota are busy shuffling kids back and forth and organizing the family calendar. May is also the month we celebrate Mother’s Day. As a mother of three, I know firsthand how hard it is to balance juggling schedules, doctoring scrapped knees and helping with homework, and I want to say thank you to every mother in our state for your commitment to your children.

Being a parent is an incredible responsibility, and I am so grateful that I was blessed with Kassidy, Kennedy and Booker. But being a mom also comes with a pervasive sense of worry that I think every mom experiences. Worry that our kids will get hurt, that they’ll make the right decisions or about whether or not they’ll one day find a career they love and can succeed in. We can’t control a lot of what we worry about. But there are areas – like whether or not our kids have even greater opportunities than we had – that we can make an impact on.

Regardless of race, age, religion or political affiliation, every American deserves a country where they are free to choose what they think and what to pursue, and where hard work and commitment can spell success. As South Dakota’s lone U.S. Representative, I am working hard to implement policies that will build a better America for every South Dakotan and every American. Policies that empower innovators, encourage small businesses and create an environment for robust job growth that will help ensure there are jobs for our graduates.

I believe America is exceptional. I believe that despite all of the challenges our nation is facing, including a sluggish economy, rising health care costs and record debt, we will come out on top. Just look at the success of women in this country right now. Women are starting two out of three new businesses and, for the first time in history, are a majority of the American workforce.

I want to see all of our sons and daughters have the opportunity to achieve that kind of success. That’s why I ran for Congress and that’s why I am continuing to fight every day for policies that will protect the American Dream for them.

Thanks to all the mother’s in South Dakota for all you do and Happy Mother’s Day!