Mum-of-five Shamim Ahmed is the rock on whom the family depends, says her daughter Mehwish.
The 67-year-old, of Belgrave, Leicester, has more energy than many people a third her age, according to her 22-year-old daughter.
that's why Mehwish, who lives with her parents, said she was proud to nominate her mother for the Mercury's Mum of the Year Awards.
Mehwish said: "I decided to nominate Mum for an award because of all the things she does without thinking of herself.
"My mum has always been there for all of us.
"My brother and one of my sisters have a walking disability. I remember mum and dad taking them to different doctors and trying herbal medicine, even spiritual healing – anything that might have helped them recover.
"When they realised the conditions were permanent they didn't lose heart and kept on doing whatever was possible to make things easier for them.
"My sister recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.
"Mum goes over to her house every day so she can help her by cooking and cleaning, allowing her to save strength to look after her baby.
"For someone who is 67, that's more energy than I have."
Mehwish said her mum was also a major support when she was pregnant with her first baby.
She said: "I became very unwell after giving birth. Mum was there like my knight in shining armour and looked after my daughter for the first two months.
"It wasn't until I found out I had a heart condition and started taking the proper medication that I was fit enough to look after my baby.
"If mum hadn't been by my side, I don't know what I would've done."
Mehwish is now back at work and her mum is always on hand to look after her daughter.
Mehwish said: "She's a mum to our kids, not a grandmother. The truth is, Mum is our rock.
"All I want to say is "thank you, Mum, and I love you. You're the best mum in the world."
Shamim said: "I was very surprised that my daughter nominated me.
"I do what any mother would do, nothing special. But it is nice to be nominated."
Amanda Phillips, manager of the Haymarket shopping centre, in Leicester, is a sponsor and judge of the competition.
She said: "We believe mums can often be the unsung heroes in the family, doing lots of little things every day which make our lives easier, keep us going and make us feel special and which, if we're honest, often go unnoticed.
" If you think about it, we bet you can come up with a whole list of things that your mum does which say 'I care'.
"It might be something as seemingly ordinary as a cuddle when you fall over, a listening ear, a home-cooked meal while you are studying hard or the nights of unpaid babysitting which allow you to spend time with your partner."
