This Mother’s Day, Presenting The Women Who Influenced Our Greatest Influencers
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there who manage to whip up all our favorite foods, listen to endless rants about Zac Efron, take us to and from basketball practice across town and shower all in a day’s time. I’ll never understand how my mom manages to selflessly take care of me, my brothers and my dad - plus the addition of two rambunctious grandchildren she devotes her entire peaceful retired life to. I think sometimes we forget that our moms are people, and their fulfillment in life isn’t only to take care of us—we’re important, don't get us wrong—but we’re really just a fraction of their world. And on top of that, my mom maintains friendships with her neighborhood gals, her book club, her former coworkers, family friends, cousins (who live across the country, mind you), as well as a best friend of over 37 years. Her ease and commitment to preserve these diverse friendships is something I reflect on and have picked up in my own life. I’ve always developed mini-groups of strong female friendships and value the different relationships I’ve developed, as she does. Through watching my mom, I’ve learned how to make time for others and nurture all the relationships in my life.
Oh and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention, this entire article was influenced by one of the inspiring women in my life that I’ll be telling my children about. They’ll groan and say, “We KNOW mom, you never shut up about loving Aunt Alicea!”
Marcy — Mother of 4
Being raised by a single mom has had an impact on every aspect of my life. My mom’s strength and determination, which I see even when she doesn’t, has definitely forged my path toward becoming a strong, independent woman myself. As my three daughters go from being children to young women, I find I am influenced by them as well. At first they made me strive to be a better human and to set the best possible example I could so they would grow up to be kind, loving, generous, thoughtful, beautiful souls. As they transition to adulthood, they inspire me to believe in myself and reach for my dreams as I watch them do the same.
Bernadette — Mother of 2
Taken by Bernadette’s mother, capturing all 8 siblings in one picture.
There are so many women I’ve admired in my life, but most of all my mother, Ann. Ann was a mother of six girls and two boys - eight children in eleven years. My mother was consistent in many ways, she had to be having so many children. She always held fast to her beliefs, which says something about her strong character and the values she instilled in us. Ann always got her point across. She was the queen of one liners. If we would ask her where she was going she would say “crazy, do you want to come?” If we complained about dinner she would say “you’ll see what you get tomorrow.” Another funny one was “you have no idea how hard it is to cook a bad meal for ten people.” Yes, we understood her completely!
She never tried to control our lives, but always gently guided us with her strength and love. Devoted to her family as most mothers are, she took things a step further by documenting the stages of our lives through her photography. When she died, there were over 100 albums of family photos. Photography was her voice, and I believe she took so many pictures because she wanted us to remember her love. It wasn’t always easy getting all eight to cooperate and pose, but we were left with a beautiful pictorial history of our lives and loves. When I look at the pictures she saved and share them with my brothers and sisters, we honor her commitment of love.
Peggy — Mother of 2, Grandmother of 3
I had to give this one some thought. When I was young, as in grade school, I idolized movie stars like Debbie Reynolds, Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day. When I was 16 and was old enough to work I was offered a part time job at O’Meara’s, a very nice ladies department store where both my sisters had worked. The owners were a married couple, the female, Betty, being of the O’Meara family who had some other stores in Minnesota. Betty was lovely, (looked like Elizabeth Taylor) confident, hardworking, stylish, and a nice but strict boss. I looked up to her for all those qualities and worked hard to please her.
My mother was the most influential woman in my life. I suppose that’s not unusual. Looking back I realize that she was a very strong woman and ahead of her time in some ways. She was smart, creative, caring, and strong willed. Even woke. Haha. She grew up on a farm in North Dakota. She and her brother rode a pony to a one room school. She went to high school in a very small town where she was valedictorian of her class. It was unusual for girls from there to go to college, but she attended and graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She was elected Vice President of her Jr. class, being the first female and non-Greek to ever hold that office. This was all at the start of the depression. At some point she was involved in politics at the local level and was an active supporter of Hubert Humphrey.
When she graduated she took a teaching job in Drayton ND. There she met my father, ending her teaching career.Thus began the next chapter of her life. They had four children, me being the youngest. Due to it being the depression, they had little money. My dad was pumping gas when I was born. As time went by things improved for them. (another story). Mother was always active in the community; church, scouts, PEO. She was the director of the Wesley Methodist Foundation for college students and on the Governor's Mental Health Committee. She was always the president or director of whatever she was involved in. She was a substitute teacher when we kids were in school, much in demand. Women were not allowed to have full time teaching positions in Bemidji if they were married. I know, how strange? But she was hired for a couple years when they couldn’t find anyone else. I have classmates who have told me how they respected her and that she made a difference in their lives. She used methods that were ahead of her time and made learning fun.
Mother had many friends and liked to entertain. Many baby and bridal showers were held at our house. She was also called on to host foreign students who might be associated with the church or college. And she was a great cook, famous for her chocolate chip cookies and homemade rolls. I think she had a huge influence on me and my sisters and I know we all three appreciate her legacy.
Penny — Mother of 6
I look up to Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint in the Catholic church. She was a doctor, wife, and mother, who loved fashion and the outdoors. She was a respected professional and a mother- a woman who could do it all. She put others before herself. I learned about St. Gianna fourteen years ago and was so inspired by her that I named one of my daughters after her. I spent my early adult life in a very conservative and strict religious community that had very old fashion ideas, including that women should stay home. St. Gianna was a great example that women could be religious AND have a job AND be a mother. St. Gianna inspired me to go back to work. I have been working as a science teacher and love teaching kids about the earth and environmentalism.
* Note from Clare, one of Penny’s loving children: She is amazing at her job and I am so happy that she's letting herself find fulfillment in more areas of her life. :)
Lisa — Mother of 3
Thank you for this opportunity to reflect. I will always be grateful to three women who influenced my life in the most profound way.
Claudia, thank you for once telling me to surrender to motherhood. I needed to hear that. Being a mother is the one gift I will forever be grateful for. Block out the noise. Pay attention to what your heart is telling you — that is the ORDER you need. Because it’s your family and your order. So what if every child in “Mommy and Me” sleeps through the night and takes 2 hour naps? When I was a young mom, at least I never had to rush back home FOR a nap!
Aunt Christine, thank you for telling me that marriage is not always a 50/50 proposition. There are certainly ebbs and flows. Okay, if your partner drops below 35% then you have permission to explode.
Mom, thank you for teaching me unconditional LOVE. The kind of love that builds a strong woman. Love that gives you self-confidence because you were never compared to other girls. Love that teaches you to love your siblings and always keep them close to your heart. Love that is so embedded in your DNA that every day you thank God to be alive. Love that empowers you to be your best SELF, WIFE and MOTHER every day… EVERY DAY I pray that my dear Alyse and Liz, too, are empowered by the gift my mother gave to me.
Seriously… what would we do without these incredible, inspiring, empowering women?!
