I’ve had a lot of people in my life who have been a role model to me. I am thankful to every one of them. However, especially now as a mom, I find Mothers Day to be extra special. It’s fun to look back and reminisce about the things our parents did for us. Most of us don’t recognize the sacrifice parents make until we are adults ourselves. Here are some thoughts from our board members about their moms.
Pam
I’ll never forget the time my mom let my brother and I make slime. We begged and begged and she didn’t want to but then she gave in and we had so much fun – but now as an adult, I know how much work it was for her and what a mess we made.
Cathy
Our childhoods in Lakewood centered around rec softball and hours and hours each summer on the field. My mom insisted we play softball (without any resistance from us) and also coached us from an early age (five!). She helped us develop our love of the sport. I met my oldest friends on the softball field! Looking back, she had three toddlers in tow, but she taught us the importance of showing up and being part of a team.
Craig
At my mom’s funeral, one of my old friends from grade school–he used to spend time at our house after school till his parents were off work—reminded me of something that stuck with me. We always had homemade baked goods at our house. Cookies, cakes, pies, etc. I never thought about how much time and effort (and skill) went into making them, we totally took it for granted.
Joe
We carpooled with another family to school every day. It was my sister, brother and myself. When it wasn’t my mom’s turn to drive, she’d sit at the grand piano (just by the front door) and sing “Hit the Road Jack”. She’d do this often and she seemed so happy when we left. I think back fondly on that experience.
Tom
A memory of my Mom is how giving she has always been. She gives of herself and always puts others first. Now that I have a family of my own, I am not sure how she did everything she did for us.
Kristin
Singing Edelweiss from Sound of Music to put us to sleep. She’s sung it to all the grandkids as well.
Dana
During the summer, every few weeks we would go to Hinckley Lake. We would walk the dogs, sometimes have a picnic, sometimes go on a canoe. Such a great way to get outdoors, doesn’t cost anything, and my sister and I always begged to go! There is also a great mini-golf course next door, with ice cream, that we would stop at if we were lucky.
Krissy
My mom did everything for us. She drove us to extracurriculars, she included cousins and friends in our outings to the zoo or the park. She also always had healthy snacks at the ready for me, my siblings, our friends, neighbors and cousins, basically any kids that were around. These all seem like little things that most moms do anyway, but it sure made for a happy childhood and definitely helped shape the kind of mom I am for my kids.
Jac
Super Mom…Super Fan!
I cannot narrow down a favorite memory of my mother but something that always impressed me regarding my mom was her devotion to being present and supportive; she was and still is the biggest fan I have ever known.
I started playing softball in second grade: played travel, rec, and high school softball until my senior year. In addition to attending every single softball game (often double headers) for 10 years she attended 7 consecutive seasons of Westlake High School football games. My brother played in the marching band, as did I my freshman year, before joining the Debonaire flag line. Not only was her perfect attendance maintained throughout Ohio’s insane weather patterns, but she would never leave the game early or even after the halftime show. People thought she was nuts for sitting through a blizzard from the start of the game till the last second on the clock; but with blue fingertips and purple lips she would sit there clapping and cheering for every single person out on that field.
One day I finally inquired why she endured the entirety of each game and her response is something I will never forgot: “Everyone’s child is important and deserves equal recognition…the football players, the band kids, the water boys, the cheerleaders…It wouldn’t be right for me to only come to watch my own child and leave, when each student has worked hard to be key components to the season.” While I know my mom was my biggest fan, she was also a fan for every child’s participation and accomplishments.
GREAT stories! ❤️❤️❤️