Sunday May 11 is Mother’s Day. We’re going to be talking about something mothers do very well — influence. Like it or not, our moms shape who we are. Genetics is part of it, but influence goes far beyond that. Our values and habits, our beliefs hopes and fears are all influenced by the people close to us. Notice I say influenced, not determined. Your parents don’t control who you are and what you think (just ask them, they’ll surely agree!). But they do have influence in ways we sometimes don’t even realize.