Cleveland Mommy Diary: On Mother's Day: A Tribute to My Mom

In 5th grade I was in an after school Catholic girls group and each year there was an essay contest for Mother's Day. When they announced I was the essay winner for my class I was thrilled for my mom to hear my story read aloud. Unfortunately someone lost all of the essays that year and so my mom never got to hear what I had written about her. It's crushed me to this day. Now some 20 some years later, I will try to recreate the feeling behind the essay on why my mom is such an amazing mother, woman, and friend.

A tribute to my mom

There are many words to describe my mom: loving, kind, patient, funny, selfless, dedicated, warm, devoted, caring, and light-hearted. I think all of these are qualities that every mom needs to possess in order to be great. What makes my mom so amazing is that she makes me feel all of these things just by being around her. The relationship between my mom and I is very special. From an early age, I remember my mom and I always being silly together. She never took things too seriously and if I did, she was always there to remind me to lighten up and she'd do something goofy so I'd smile.

One of the fondest memories of my mom had to be when I was in what I think was the 2nd grade. My mom came home that night and promptly announced that everyone had to sit on the couch. I remember thinking we were all in trouble and wondering why she was home so late. A minute later my brother, sister and I sat on the couch. All of the lights in the house were turned off and my mom appeared in the center of the living room. She was speaking into my sister's Fisher Price microphone that lit up when you hit your feet on it. She was making the lights go crazy as she shouted into the microphone -- "in my hands I have five tickets to see...The New Kids on the Block!!!" O.M.G. My brother, sister and I went absolutely crazy, screaming and jumping all over the house! We were all obsessed with the New Kids on the Block and my mom had waited in line for hours and hours to secure us tickets.

My mom has always made me feel special. After she picked me up from my ballet class we'd drive over to Wendy's for a chicken sandwich. We never told anyone else in my family that we did this. We'd go through the drive-thru, order two chicken sandwiches, park the car, and eat and talk. It was our little secret. I always ordered my sandwich with ketchup and pickles only, and she'd get hers with lettuce, tomato and mayo. We always laughed when the Wendy's commercial came on the radio. The man that did the radio commercials made this chicken sandwich sound like it was to die for. His voice was so melodramatic. "Come by Wendy's for a hot, juuuuicy, deliciousss, chicken sandwich!" We'd crack up every time knowing our inside secret!

My mom encouraged my love for reading at an early age. She had this great contest in the summer months where my brother, sister, and I would each get a piece of colored construction paper hung on the fridge door with our names on it. For each book we read we got a sticker. Whoever had the most stickers at the end of summer got a prize. Second and third place also received prizes too, in case you were wondering.

Birthday parties growing up were always a blast due to my mom's great makeup applications and hair makeovers she'd give me and my friends. We'd play Miss America and she'd make sure each girl won for some category - best smile, best stage presence, etc.

When my sister and I did gymnastics, my mom took us to every practice and meet. She was our biggest cheerleader in the crowd and I remember all of the other gymnasts saying how cool my mom was because she sold leotards at our home meets. My sister and I were always dressed in the best and newest leotards with matching hair scrunchies. We didn't have much money growing up but my mom never let us go without anything we needed or wanted.

Bird and I with my friend Mallory

When I quit gymnastics and moved on to cheerleading she was there to support me. After every tryout she'd be there, waiting in the car with a gift. I was always so nervous before those tryouts but knowing that my mom believed in me always calmed my fears. My mom is protective as well and willing to go to bat for us. I remember I wasn't doing well in an algebra class and wasn't going to be able to cheer because of a low grade. My mom called and spoke to the teacher and convinced him to let me retake two of the most recent tests so I could cheer. I'll never forget how awesome I thought that was.

Graduating high school and moving onto college was scary. I remember calling my mom all the time and asking for advice. She encouraged me to get involved and go out for the cheerleading squad and join a sorority. She even guest-starred on my weekly radio show on the college station and students all across campus came to know her as Bird.

visiting S in DC

Some kids are embarrassed by their parents, especially their moms. I've never once felt that way about my mom. In fact, my mom is well loved by anyone that meets her. Her kind spirit and infectious personality just make you want to be around her. I was always proud to have my mom chaperone a school dance, meet my friends, and hang out with us.

bus trip to New York

Traveling with my mom has been a highlight of our time together through the years as we've become even closer. Whether it's a road trip to visit my sister in Washington, DC, or flying across oceans to go to Jamaica, Maui, or Grand Cayman, our time together is so fun and always goes too fast. I hope we continue to travel together in the future, making memories and being silly with our newest member of the girls club (CharTot).

Now that I'm a mom myself, I truly appreciate her even more. A dear family friend gave my mom a photo frame the says "Great Moms Get Promoted to Grandma's" and I couldn't agree more. Birdy, I feel so lucky to have you as a role model. I hope I can be half the mom to Charlotte that you are to me. Words can't truly express how much you mean to me. I love you so much. And Charlotte and I are so very lucky and blessed to have you in our lives. Happy Mother's Day!