Celebrating Mother's Day

By Nina Pierce Baker '77
Web Site Editor

I'm posting this Mother's Day post a day late because I spent my Mother's Day relaxing....well, in between a couple of loads of laundry and making dinner! But I did want to say Happy Mother's Day to my Mom - my own Supermom whom I love and admire - and to all the other Moms out there.

In this day and age, "Mom" means so much more than what it used to when we were growing up. Moms come in many forms and fulfill many roles and, I ain't gonna lie to you - motherhood is a tough job. Even in the best of circumstances, it's a hard and often thankless task. However, I think almost everyone has the qualities necessary to be a good mom - nurturing, kind, caring, patient on occasion, forgiving, but most of all, loving. 

I see so many of these fine qualities in my Wagner friends - from Christi Tower Miller '75 and Josie Tan '77 who became parents at a very young age in tough circumstances and now enjoy grandparenting - to Judy Seals Baker '76 who celebrates her daughter's specialness by educating people about Down Syndrome and supporting Early Intervention programs - to Carol McClellan '78 and Karen Rogg Rehbock '80 who use their experience to fight on behalf of Autism.

I admire those that look outside their circle and take on children who need a home - like Tom Kruggle and his wife who have just adopted their second child from China or Heidi Young '78 and her husband who've adopted special needs kids and help out at orphanges in Kenya. I admire Lucy Straughn '77 who uses her own experience giving a child up for adoption in her new career as an adoption counselor. And I have a special place in my heart for great educators, like Dona Jo Shusterman, who take part in raising many children.

Parenthood is 24/7 and I can't imagine doing it on my own, but we have many successful single parents in our group and I give them kudos - like Gigi Hensley '77, Deborah Wilkins '78 (who lost her own mom at a young age), Sue Corey '78, Julie Overby '78, Becky Moore '79 (who also runs her own construction business), Patty Garber '76 and Tish Rush '75....and those that are single moms for long chunks of time as their spouses deploy overseas like Tina Villareal '78.

I feel for those moms who have experienced the loss of their child like Eileen Burke '76, whose children serve in the military like Debbie Best '76, and those whose eldest have left home, like Sue Eby '78, and have learned the hard lesson of "letting go".

Giving birth is not a prerequisite for being a "mom" and I salute those who've given their love as step-parents (probably the hardest job on earth) like Myrna Nickelsen '78 and Libby Cales '77 (and my sister Alyta Pierce '81).You don't even have to be a mom to have those qualities. Lily Duke '80 helped hundreds of children after Hurricane Katrina with her relief efforts. Elin Pierce '78, Dana Williams '77 and Melinda Delafuente '77 are as proud and passionate about their nieces and nephews as if they were their own. And being a female isn't a requirement either - as single dads who've had to do both jobs can attest to - like Frank Fontenot '77 and Juan Garcia '80.

So Happy Mother's Day (albeit a day late) to all the "moms" out there - you deserve the best!

Comments

[Debbie Best Lowe]

Nina..what a nice Mother's Day article.and how sweet it was of you to mention my son..he even sent me two mother's day cards..one serious, which made me laugh, and two days later a serious one, that made me cry..he wanted to show how much he 'really, really, really" missed me and appreciated me...those were his words!!...
I am truly proud of him, as my daughter--they are truly my biggest accomplishment that I've made in my life.
Kevin just got promoted the week of his 20th birthday...and is now is a Corporal in USMC. I miss him being home..and everytime he leaves..it's no easier seeing him leave.
My daughter, Kim who's a paramedic.and finishing up her last year for an RN Degree, just got married April 5th..and now we have a wonderful son inlaw who's not only a Firefighter (former USMC), & Realtor..can't ask for better than that to have a son inlaw with two jobs!!haha
Your article truly touched my heart!!
I have a couple of pics I'd like to share..how do I get them posted??
hugs!!
Debbie Best Lowe 76

[Lisa Ramos Wilcox]

Nina,that was such a nice article you wrote. Way to go in highlighting the many faces of motherhood =) And for letting me know I'm not alone in thinking this is the hardest job ever..besides marriage!

[Dana Williams]

And don't forget those with "four-legged" kids!!

[Myrna Nickelsen]

Oh man, Nina! You are way too nice for words. I suddenly feel like I'm a little bit of a "bah, humbug" sort given that I roll my eyes and grumble about Mother's Day being nothing more than another Hallmark holiday after reading this post.

Funny but this Mother's Day Weekend, I, who has never given birth had good friends' 7-year old twin boys from Friday night through noon on Sunday when their parents picked them up to take them to a Mother's Day Sunday Brunch. Before that, I was doing park things, teaching them how to throw a football, watching a Muppets movie, and dancing to kids' songs. There are many of us who do not have children but who love them nonetheless. So thanks for recognizing us sometime-mothers and pseudo-moms!

[Gabe Montes 77]

Just a short note to say I hope all you mommies out there had a wonderful and relaxing Mother's Day! You all ROCK!!