If not for our mothers, none of us would exist. This is a pretty remarkable fact and one worth celebrating each year on the second Sunday of May.
Mother’s Day is a day to show gratitude towards all mothers—whether mothers with a spouse and children, single moms or women with mother-like or nurturing attributes. No matter the story, mothers are so important to each and every one of us.
Similar to our Mother’s Day blog post last year, we asked our clients, friends and the Red Bamboo team to share something about their mothers, grandmothers or another woman who had, or continues to make, a positive impact in their lives. Whether it was a memory they shared, a lesson learned, an idiom, or inspirational advice—we wanted to hear it and share it on our blog. The feedback we received is nothing short from extraordinary and to honor all of the women and “mothers” in our lives we present you with 12 inspiring stories.
What Doesn’t Kill You…Would Make a Great Joke
Michelle Sassa with her mother.
My mother taught me to be strong. When I was a child, I would run to her and say, “Mom, it hurts when I do this!”
She would always reply, “Then don’t do that.”
Clearly, she also taught me how to have a sense of humor.
But Mom had a big nurturing side too. If I was ever really hurt, bleeding, or upset, she was right there to soothe me with a hug, a kiss, and her favorite words of reassurance:
“Don’t worry sweetie. It’s too far from your ass to kill you.”
Thanks, Mama, for lovingly showing me how to take a licking and keep on ticking without taking myself, or life, too seriously.
– Michelle Sassa, Brand & Positioning Strategist, Red Bamboo Marketing
A Devoted Wife, Mother & Boss
Rob Eyerkuss with his mother.
When I was in the 1st grade, my mother came into my class on career day to talk about the company that she started in that year (1991). The company was called Corporate Training Group, Inc. (CTG) and she brought in a bag of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups with CTG stickers on the back of each piece of candy. Back then not only was I proud to have my mom come in to talk to my class, but prouder that she brought in my favorite candy for my entire class. At that point in my life I didn’t realize how much work and dedication it took for her to be a dedicated wife and mother of two, and the president of a start-up technology and training company.
Twenty-five years later, my mom is still the President of CTG and I am now going onto my 8th year at CTG. I am grateful for all she has done for me and all she continues to do. Watching her accomplish things in her professional life and yet continuing to dedicate herself as a devoted mother is inspiring, to say the least!
– Rob Eyerkuss III, Director of Sales and Strategic Alliances, Corporate Training Group
Silent Life Lessons I Learned from My Mom
I would not be who I am—or where I today without my Mom. I have learned by watching her that life is about giving, not getting. And collecting memories, not things. I have watched for years as she’s traveled around the world in an effort to help better the lives of others.
In doing so, she too has bettered mine. This Mother’s Day, I pray those memories will bring happiness to her heart.
– Katie Krogstad Roed, Content Director, Red Bamboo Marketing
A True Joy
Tracy A Wehringer with her son.
Nothing else can produce the joy or broken heart that motherhood provides. Today, my son Rich is 23 years old and took a dream job 2,156 miles away in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One item that has stayed with us stems from when he was learning the alphabet and words. He would write IUV for, “I love you” on his coloring books and papers that we would hang on the refrigerator. Throughout the years, middle school, high school, college and today, I’ll get a quick text that says IUV that tells me that he is thinking about me.
– Tracy A Wehringer, CMO, NIP Group
The Sacrifice is Appreciated
Can you believe that you are a grandmother now?
Our relationship has taken such a turn for the better and I truly enjoy watching you spend time with your granddaughter, Elle.
Growing up, it was great to have my grandmother around and I am looking forward to many more years of Elle growing up with her grandmother or Granny to be correct.
I just want to thank you for everything that you have done for our family. As a father, I now realize the sacrifices you had to make, that we always took for granted! I appreciate you more than ever and we love you very much! Thank you for everything.
– Aaron Levine, Founder & CEO, LG Insurance Agency
Aaron Levine with his family, mom included, celebrating daughter Elle’s first birthday!
Thankful for Her Unmatched Wisdom & Advice
As I reflect on what to mention this year, I am thinking mostly about my relationship with my three girls. There are so many ups and downs and when you think you’ve finally got it right, you realize you don’t. I think the hardest thing for me as a mother is making sure that I am present to my girls – trying to recognize my behavior in advance – especially to avoid those times when I am frustrated and tired and taking it all out on them. It always feels so awful when that happens. The thing I am most thankful for during these tough times – is having my mom there to be my girl’s grandmother.
While I am busy being a mom – cooking, cleaning, worrying about the house and the girl’s schools – she is there to have fun with her granddaughters. She teaches them to write (in cursive, too), make paper dolls, play pretend and lets them pretty much do anything they ask. She pays a lot of attention to them and encourages their imagination and creativity. I can name on one hand how many times she has raised her voice to my girls – very different than how she was as a mom. She was much more preoccupied with all of the things I am now and became frustrated too.
I am lucky that I am a witness to how she is with my girls and I am lucky that she shares her advice about being a mom with me too. She has told me a million times how the one thing she wished she did less of when we were growing up was scream. Now, to be honest, I don’t think she really did too much screaming, but I am happy to learn from her what she views as her shortcomings as a mother. She is always open to sharing with me things she wished she did different as a mother – those pieces of advice, many times not solicited, are golden. They stop me in my tracks and get me to change my behavior or at least think about what she has said and make even a small change. I am so lucky that my mom is in my life and my daughters and that she shares these reminders with me to make me the best mom (and person) I can be.
Happy Mother’s Day Rosemarie Herold, I love you – so do Claudia, Eva and Carla.
By the way, I couldn’t let this post go out with a little humor – here is the trailer for the Bad Moms movie. While it is a little over the top – I am sure we can all relate to many of these characters.
– Jennifer Garcia, Partner & CEO, Red Bamboo Marketing
The Family Key Keeper
Igor Severinovskiy with his wife, kids and mother.
My mom is definitely the key keeper of the family. There is nothing more important to her than seeing all of us playing nicely in the sandbox (thus the picture on the beach)!
She is a very determined person and she taught me one thing that I remembered through all my life – “If somebody can do something, so can you”. She came to the US in her late 40’s and there were a lot of firsts for her. She learned how to drive, how to work with customers and how to make them feel good after talking to her. Her first job after she moved to the US was a teller in the bank. She had no prior experience in finance but learned very quickly and eventually became a customer relationship manager at the same bank.
Now, she is retired and I get to spend more time with her and enjoy her wisdom. We even do vacations together. Last week when we were in Florida, she was there with us. My kids love being around her and love her cooking! That’s another virtue that she possesses – she can actually make dinner from absolutely nothing and it will taste delicious. And she can do that in record time.
Luckily we live very close – it’s a 5 min walk from her building to our house, so we get to see each other quite often (although I bet her and my definition of quite often differ a lot).
– Igor Severinovskiy, Executive Managing Director, DIO-Soft
My Biggest Supporter
When I was younger I didn’t realize what a responsibility being a mother actually is. Now managing work and life (without any children none-the-less) I am well aware that my mom is a superhero in disguise. My mother is not only a mom to my three brothers and myself; she is also a full-time nurse and a wonderful wife to my father. My mother is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside and I joke with her often that she is the only woman I know who gets more beautiful each year.
Since I can remember my mom has told my brothers and I that she is 35 years old…and I am starting to believe that she has a magic spring somewhere that actually keeps her that young, like the one in the book/movie, Tuck Everlasting. My mom is the most caring woman you will ever meet too which makes her the ideal nurse.
Growing up I sometimes got into arguments with my mom, like mothers and daughters sometimes do, as I wanted her to be more careless. Looking back I am so thankful she cared as much as she did because there were more times than not, always a good reason that ultimately benefited me. Also, although I may not have always known it, my mom has always been my biggest supporter. From taking me to countless soccer games and tournaments across the country to always telling me to follow my dreams and “shoot for the stars,” my mom has encouraged me to go after and achieve my goals. Mom, it is your selfishness, your unconditional love and your open heart that makes you so special.
I am thankful that some of your communications skills have been passed down to me to Mom because if anyone can get a good story out of someone, it is you. You know how to get all the important details through listening and caring with all of your heart. You are someone who makes others feel special and I hope on Mother’s Day especially, that the boys, your daughter-in-laws (who are another testament to what a great job you did raising your sons) and I can give you a glimpse of what you have given us over the years. Thank you, mom and happy Mother’s Day to you not just on Sunday, but every day!
– Kelly Martin, Communications Manager, Red Bamboo Marketing
Thanks Mom, “It’s In Our Genes”
My Mom used to say – it’s in your gene’s – every time any of her daughters seemed to be picking up one of her habits, hobbies or loves. I know people always say – oh no- I’m my mother. We loved those connections.
One of our silly ones was how many lists our mom made. For absolutely everything you’d walk into every room of the house and she’d have a notepad with a list – what to do, buy, watch. There was nothing safe from being chronicled. And that’s the one that really stuck with me. Of course, today my lists are in One Note and on my phone (but I’ve still been known to drool over a new pack of post-its). Honestly – silly as it was – it’s such a great habit now with all the different projects I have going so thanks, Mom!
– Barbara Pfeiffer, Chief Executive Officer, FORCE
There’s More to the Word Mother
I first heard this in the movie “The Crow” but here’s the original source: “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” William Makepeace Thackeray, in Vanity Fair (1847-1848), Vol. II, Ch. 2
I love it … it reminds me of how I felt when I was little.
– Tim Parsons, COO/CMO, 5:00 Films & Media
My Personal Stylist
Karen Kramer and her mother.
My mom is one of the most creative women I know. I owe my love of scrapbooking – and whatever other artistic ability I may have – to her.
She was the mom who always helped make my school project extra special. She was the mom who decorated my room in bright and sunny yellow. She was the mom who carefully and beautifully crafted many of the clothes I wore as a little girl. I will never forget the gingham butterfly top she made me (it had bat wings for arms; I thought I was so fashionable and silently wished that shirt would allow me to fly) or my very favorite piece of clothing of all time – the matching blue and pink flowered nightgown she made for me and Samantha Emmalina, my cabbage patch doll. Thank you, mom – for the fabulous memories and the ability as an adult to mix and match! I love you.
She was the mom who always helped make my school project extra special. She was the mom who decorated my room in bright and sunny yellow. She was the mom who carefully and beautifully crafted many of the clothes I wore as a little girl. I will never forget the gingham butterfly top she made me (it had bat wings for arms; I thought I was so fashionable and silently wished that shirt would allow me to fly) or my very favorite piece of clothing of all time – the matching blue and pink flowered nightgown she made for me and Samantha Emmalina, my cabbage patch doll. Thank you, mom – for the fabulous memories and the ability as an adult to mix and match! I love you.
Thank you, mom – for the fabulous memories and the ability as an adult to mix and match! I love you.
– Karen Kramer, SVP Marketing, FORCE
A Memory I will Cherish Always
Mary Beth Walz and son.
The day my sons were born was the best memory I’ll ever have. A day I’ll cherish forever.
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a mother. However, life had other plans. Shortly after college, I started working in corporate America, in a sales capacity. I was so passionate about my career, I worked hard and it paid off.
We all know how quickly time goes by and before I knew it one by one my girlfriends was pregnant. Although I was happy for her, and the other people I knew at that stage too, I wished I was in their shoes. Unfortunately, what happened next put a bit of a damper on my dream.
Memorial weekend year 2000, I was on my way home from work and I ironically called my mother (who by the way, is the epitome of what one should be) to tell her how happy I was. The years prior were hard for me personally and she always worried. I think phone call may have been one of her best. We enjoyed the weekend and got ready to start the work week. Before going to work on Tuesday, I went to the doctor because a few of my tests came back abnormal. I entered this doctors office without a worry, but when I left things were different. I was diagnosed with cancer and in my mind the worst kind, it was in my uterus. My dream of having a child was crushed. I went into a deep depression and once again threw myself into my career.
Years passed, technology changed and hope returned. I was able to freeze my eggs. Although I could never carry a child, I could have a biological child or children. My crushed dream finally had some hope.
In 2012, I could no longer wait for “Mr. Right,” I was going to do this on my own. My beautiful sister-in-law was going to carry. It turned out she did, and I was having twin boys.
In the beginning of this process everything went according to plan but during the 24th week, things changed and it all went wrong. My sister-in-law went into preterm labor and spent the next few weeks trying to hold my sons in. At 27 weeks 5 days, Colleen went into labor with the twins. They were tiny yet perfect. No health issues, and I was told not to worry. I spent that day going back and forth between my son’s rooms. Holding my precious sons truly made everything worthwhile and my deepest desire complete. There is not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my sons birth and cherish that memory.
– Marybeth Walz, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Hope for Children Foundation
The Meaning of Sacrifice
One thing that stands out about my mom is how much she sacrificed so that I could live a better life. When I was younger, I never really understood how difficult raising children could be. And my sister and I weren’t just your normal children – we were a handful. And yet mom always tried to make our lives the best they could be, despite the fact that it often resulted in her sacrificing her own time, happiness or comfort in doing so.
When we were younger, she worked extra jobs to keep us in good schools and get the best education we could. During one difficult financial stretch, she used our living room as her sleeping quarters so my sister and I could each have our own bedroom to call our own. We never missed a Christmas or birthday, though in hindsight I’m sure she spent countless hours working to make sure that would never happen. These are merely a handful of the countless sacrifices she made to make our lives better.
We made it through the tough times, things kept getting better, and it was thanks to mom’s strength and perseverance that our story has a happy ending today.
And despite all this, she never once complained about it – keeping her happy demeanor even when we sulked and booed like the little terrors we were.
So thank you mom – for always being there, for always giving what you could, and for helping turn me into the person I am today. I owe you so much for giving me the life I have today.
And on a lighter note…she’s also responsible for my my kick-ass taste in music.
I love you!
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading about all of the mothers in this post as much as we did. Maybe it is the writer in me, and maybe it is more than that, but I’d like to think that the power of our words can mean so much more than anything money could ever buy. Wishing all the mothers featured in this blog post and all the mother’s in the world a beautiful day filled with everlasting love.
