There is a very special day coming up this month, and if you’re likely to forget, we suggest going ahead and marking your calendars… May 9th is Mother’s Day!
This day isn’t just for a bouquet of flowers, an overpriced greeting card, and another bottle of body wash your mom doesn’t need (but still accepts with a smile); it’s to reflect on the beauty of motherhood, and what a joy it is to raise up a life! Many of our staff members are moms, and some are even grandmas!
Instead of only posting a “thank you” to all of the moms on social media, we wanted to dig a little deeper, and give you an inside glimpse into what life is like for the moms at or connected to our center!
EACH WOMAN WAS ASKED TO RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
- When did you become a mom?
- What is your sweetest memory with your child(ren)?
- Funniest memory with your child(ren)?
- Favorite part of being a mom?
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be?
“AMBER”
- When did you become a mom? I became a mom in June 2020, so I can only speak with 10 months of experience!
- What is your sweetest memory with your child(ren)? My sweetest memory of my little one was the moment I first laid eyes on her. It was the most joy I have ever felt in my life! I was sobbing tears of joy on the hospital bed.
- Funniest memory with your child(ren)? One of my funniest memories with her so far is that one night she was crying in her crib, so I went to pick her up and comfort her. It was pitch black dark… and I picked her up upside down…
- Favorite part of being a mom? My favorite part of being a mom is the cuddles!
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be? Set aside every distraction when you are with your baby. I have always heard that they grow up fast, but I didn’t realize how fast until becoming a mom myself. Cherish every second! (And take lots of pictures!)
“JESSICA”
“I’m not a mom but, I wanted to take a moment to simply brag on my amazing mother!”
- When did she become a mom? At the birth of my older brother, 27 years ago.
- What is your sweetest memory with your mom? There are so many precious memories that I have with my mom, but I really enjoyed when she let my sister and I skip school so we could take a girl’s trip to Savannah, GA. We ate amazing food and toured the city, and felt like rebels while doing it!
- Funniest memory with your mom? Once we were paddling down the Suwannee River in a canoe together, we had barely left the boat ramp when we flipped the boat and got all of our clothes wet, and then had to paddle the rest of the trip soaking wet.
- Favorite thing about your mom? Her confidence and how comfortable she is in her own skin; she is not ashamed to be embarrassingly goofy!
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be? It’s the littlest things you do that can make your children feel the most loved and that’s all a child really wants, is to know they are loved.
“CAROLYN”
- When did you become a mom? I became a mom in 1995.
- What is your sweetest memory with your child(ren)? My sweetest memories are holding my babies on my chest after a feeding. They would nap so peacefully in this position.
- Funniest memory with your child(ren)? My youngest was often up to no good, but mostly harmless shenanigans when he was very young. One time he put sunglasses on his older brother after he was asleep.
- Favorite part of being a mom? The best part of being a mom is the realization of what a joy and privilege it is to raise up young men to make a difference in the world.
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be? My advice is to remember that each day with your kids is a gift, and even on the bad days, never take one moment for granted.
“SARAH”
- When did you become a mom? I became a mom 34 years ago, and from the moment I saw the positive test, I was completely in love with my daughter. I did not know her yet, but I loved her with abandon. Then 3 years later, my son came along, and prior to that, I had wondered how I could love another child since my daughter held my complete love. But when I confirmed I was pregnant, I immediately understood that the human heart is designed to multiply love, not divide it.
- What is your sweetest memory with your child(ren)? When my 3-year-old daughter held her baby brother for the first time, stroked his baby cheek, and said “I love him mommy”
- Funniest memory with your child(ren)? My kids and my mom loved to poke roadkill animals. This completely grossed me out and I would have no part of it. So, they LOVED to go for walks with grandma, find a dead animal and poke it. Then they would come and tell me all about it while I would act grossed out, covering my ears, and making faces. They absolutely loved it, and could hardly stop laughing.
- Favorite part of being a mom? As my children became adults, watching them become persons of integrity, compassion, confidence, and love has been my favorite part of being a mom. Then comes that mysterious moment when your adult child emphatically says “Mom! I am turning into you!”
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be? My advice to new moms would be to fall in love with your children, have LOTS of fun and laughter, and hold them accountable for the hard lessons in life.
“VALERIE”
- When did you become a mom? I first became a mom on June 23rd, 2014.
- What is your sweetest memory with your child(ren)? I LOVE reading to my kids, because they all pile up on me and we snuggle up with one of their favorite books! I also love taking them for relaxing nature walks, creating with them, and baking some of our favorite treats together!
- Funniest memory with your child(ren)? My husband and I trying to give our daughter a bath for the first time-she screamed and cried so loudly-probably because the water was too cold. We were honestly so afraid of the water being too hot that I don’t think we heated it up too much. At the moment it wasn’t funny, but later it was.
- Favorite part of being a mom? Seeing my kids learn and grow! I love watching them be able to sound out letters, put sounds together and start to form words. I love watching their hearts and love for others grow as well.
- If you could give one piece of advice to moms, or those that hope to be moms in the future, what would it be? Learn to let go of expectations for the day, week, etc., and instead seize those sweet moments with your kids. Try to tell yourself that the housework and other chores will always be there, but this sweet moment right here and now is fleeting, so embrace it. Look your kiddos in the eyes and connect with them.