Chinese mothers [Photo: www.politicsdaily.com]

Related: Happy Mother's Day from CRI - Memories from Our Reporters

Many times during the year we might think of Dear Mom, but sometimes, it's only once a year that we remember to take the time to give thanks to the woman who gave us life.

May 8 is Mother's Day in many countries in the world and so we asked some women here in China to tell us some memorable stories about their mothers and moments which revealed them in a different light.

Andrea Hunt has more:

 One of the most important and enduring relationships in a woman's life is that of mother and daughter. Although life with Mom isn't without its bumps or even roller coasters of emotions, it's an ever present relationship. And yet, from childhood to adulthood, often, the way women perceive or appreciate their mothers' changes.

Maybe it's when mothers offer moral support when no one else will. Even adults sometimes wish they could have mom's care when they're sick. This was the case for Kathleen Wang from Hangzhou during a rough period in high school. Even with a full time job, her mother made painstaking efforts to be there when her daughter needed it.

Kathleen Wang from Hangzhou has a low period in high school when her mother went to great lengths to be there when her daughter needed it. [Photo: courtesy of Kathleen Wang]

"When I was a senior in high school and I wore a brace on my teeth so it really hurt when I ate; I couldn't even eat rice, let alone meat or other things. At that time, I was preparing for the upcoming college entrance examination; so, I had a lot of homework to do. At school, they asked us to remain at the residence and not go outside to find something soft or some food I could eat. My mother, at that time, cooked the food with great care, soft, so I could eat it, nutritious and delicious. She brought me lunch and dinner every day for one month."

On the other hand, sometimes distance apart can benefit the mother-daughter relationship since time together is more appreciated. For Sophie Lu from Nanning, this time brought feelings out into the open and she saw her mother in a new light.

Sometimes distance apart can benefit the mother-daughter relationship since together is more appreciated. For Sophie Lu from Nanning, this time brought feelings out into the open and she saw her mother in a new light. [Photo: courtesy of Sophie Lu]

"I remember that it was the first day until high school and I was twelve years old and I needed to leave my family and stay at a dormitory for the week. So, it was the first time to see my mother's tears, my mother's love was pressed into my heart from that moment."

Aside from maternal love, it can be also what a mother chooses to share with her daughter that makes her daughter view her differently. As is the case with many women once they reach a certain age, one story finally gave Sherry Zhang from Guilin a glimpse of who her mother used to be.

"I actually have always had a very distinct sense of the mother and the daughter roles between the two of us. Our conversations never involved any topics about love before I went to university. I remember there was a weekend I came home from school. I think at that time, she was worried about the possibility of me falling in love with some guys in the university. So, she suddenly told me that when she was young, about my age, she used to have lots of suitors and she had to separate from the man she liked because her father disapproved of him. That was the time when I suddenly felt that my mother had her own youth years and own stories."

Like many daughters, Vicky Wang from Shaanxi Province also grew up thinking her mother knew everything and was stronger than anyone. However, seeing her mother's vulnerability made her see things differently from then on.

"When I entered into the university, a small matter changed my mind. I just thought my mother was someone who didn't care about her work because I thought she was just like a house wife. Her company had a very big meeting and some of them needed to give a speech in front of many people and my mother also needed to do that. And she got very nervous and her face turned red and it took her almost two months to overcome this fear. So, I think sometimes, the mother is just like a child. They also need to be cared for."

A mother-daughter relationship is complex and always evolving. Sometimes in times of vulnerability or need, we can finally get to know our mothers. This includes moments when we stop seeing them as the invincible maternal figure who has all the answers, but as the women or friends that they can be.

For CRI, I'm Andrea Hunt.