If you really want to know the truth in life, just ask a first-grader. A child at the age of 6 or 7 is amazingly unfazed by the need to be politically correct and will generally give you the straight scoop when asked.

With this being the 84th anniversary of Mother’s Day in the United States, we wanted to find out what kids really think about moms. The role of mothers has changed significantly since Anna Jarvis campaigned to create a national holiday honoring them. What is it that makes a mom special today?

So we posed the question, “Why is your mom the best?” to the students in Debbie Weinhold’s first-grade class at St. Paul Lutheran School. We also asked them to draw a picture of their mother.

Not surprisingly, these first-graders had plenty to say. With relief, we learned the answer was not because mom is a spotless housekeeper. Nor was it for buying the biggest and best toys on the block or throwing the largest birthday parties. And if the pictures the children drew are any indication, moms and rainbows go together like peas and carrots. What that means, exactly, we’re still not sure. But it seems to be a good thing.

Moms will be happy to know that children this young really do appreciate the care that you give them, even the little things. As McKenna Erich told us while discussing her mom, “One time she did a very nice thing. I got a paper cut and she said, “Are you OK?” and got me a Band-Aid to put on it.”

Jack Corcoran said he was thankful for the fact his mother wakes him up in the morning and gets his clothes ready.

“I have good dreams,” he explains, “and can’t get up.”

And they do notice when you work hard.

“On weekends she stays home and works on her sale book,” says Sophie Cordell. “When she’s done, she works on them again.”

Food is particularly appreciated. Almost all the children mentioned enjoying meals that their moms cooked.

“She cooks yummy food,” says Hunter Norris, then in a whisper, he adds, “I like cake the best.”

The overriding theme, however, on what really seemed to make mom the best, is the time she spends with them. Playing video games together was popular, but so were the old standbys, like going to the park, simple games of hide-and-seek, reading books together before bed and baking cookies and candy. Jordyn Erich says her mom is the best because they have a special girls night, where just the two of them go out for dinner and sometimes a movie.

So moms, if you wonder sometimes what your kids really think of you, rest easy. The role of moms may have changed, but one thing has not: Kids simply love their moms.

As Brenzley Slayer so aptly puts it, “She’s the best at being my friend.”

We share with you a sample of their pictures and a few more excerpts from the interviews.

And to mothers everywhere: Happy Mother’s Day! You’re all the best.

Chase Herie, 7, son of Katie and Keith Herie.

She lets me stay up and sometimes she lets me watch scary movies. My favorites are “Alien vs. Predator” and “Blade” which is all about vampires. She lets me do karate when I’m afraid. I’m an orange belt. She’s going to buy me a four-wheeler. She thinks it’s too dangerous because our neighbor broke his neck because of a four-wheeler.

McKenna Erich, 7, daughter of Amanda and Ryan Erich

She helps me with stuff when I get stuck. She helps my brother when he gets stuck, too. One time he didn’t know how to turn the light on in his room, the door shut and he was scared. My mom opened the door and turned the light on and then she gave him a huggie. She likes to play games with me. She likes three games: hide-and-seek. I can find her everywhere because I can see her. Freeze tag: I can catch her because she can’t run that fast. She has another game called “sea game:” She pretends to be a shark and I pretend to be a fish and she pretends to eat me. When she needs to clean the house, I help her clean up the toys on the floor and I help her do the dishes and put them in the cupboard. Freeze cats: She’s a cat and she has to crawl and I get her because she’s not that fast crawling. One time she did a very nice thing. I got a paper cut and she said are you OK and got me a band-aid to put on it. Duck duck goose, She sits down and I put all my teddy bears down. When she gets me, I get her and then we do it again.

Jordyn Erich, 6, daughter of Tracy and Joseph Erich.

She’s really good at things. She’s funny. Sometimes she makes faces at her friends and she’ll send silly messages to them. Every time her friends send funny messages to her, she laughs. Sometimes we have a girls night out and we go to dinner and the movies or go to this dessert place and it’s really fun. And sometimes she hides and scares me and my brother.

Sophie Cordell, 6, daughter of Melinda and Brad Cordell

She likes cows. She does a lot of sale books. She works on her story a little bit at break. I think she has 100 pages of sale book. It’s something you do and just work on the paper every time. She pretty much works all the time. She works on cards for Brain Bowl in Savannah. On weekends, she stays home and works on her sale book. When she’s done she works on them again.

AIDAN TURNER, 7, son of Kelli and Patrick Turner

She lets me do whatever I want except for fix supper. I like to play Wii with her. When we play Star Wars both of us win. And she always tells me a bedtime story.

Jack Corcoran, 7, son of Debbie and Wayne Corcoran

She makes me get up in the morning and gets my clothes out because I have good dreams and can’t get up. She plays board games and (Nintendo) Wii sports. She wins on bowling, but in boxing I beat everybody, even my cousin. I’m going to be a heavyweight champion boxer, but I haven’t told my mom. I just love her.

HUNTER NORRIS, 7, son of Angela and Ron Norris

She always takes me to the park. I get to spend time with my baby Onna (his 3-year old sister). I like to go on the big slide. She cooks yummy food. I love cake the best. She lets me play video games. And I love my mommy because she is so sweet to me.

Claire Richardson, 7, daughter of Cindy and Curtis Richardson.

She’s really funny and smart. She helps me with my homework and tucks me in at night.

Brenzley SaLyer, 7, daughter of Angel Salyer

Lots of people like her. She’s nice and sweet to me. She takes me to Disney World and Wolf Lodge and miniature golf and all kinds of stuff. She goes outside and plays with me. We like planting flowers and stuff. We make cookies and candy for other people. She’s the best at being my friend.

Danielle Pulido, 7, daughter of Sheri and Michael Pulido

There’s three things:

She cooks good. She

takes care of us good and she’s really pretty. Sometimes she gives me a pedicure. She plays outside with me and my brother. We go shopping and sometimes I go scrapbooking with her.

Jett Trimmer, 7, son of Angela and Terry Trimmer

She fixes dinner for me. I like chicken. Sometimes she buys me toys. She works a lot.

Luke Holland, age 7, son of Rebecca and William Holland.

She’s nice, she cooks, she gives me hugs. There are more reasons, but it would take two to three days to tell you.

Lifestyles reporter Sylvia Anderson may be reached at sylviaanderson@npgco.com