I know a lot of people would say this, but no offense my mother is the coolest.
She has been an editor, journalist, photographer, public relations specialist, communications consultant, an organizing member and first vice-president of the Atlanta chapter of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, as well as a special education teacher and has been very active in organizations involving women’s politics. (She was president of the Georgia Chapter of the National Women's Party Caucus) She produced a TV show, interviewed presidents, raised 5 children, maintained a happy marriage for over 30 years, and she just won yet another award for the service work that she does with her special needs class. Her class has sold books and with the money they made bought seeds. They learned about which fruits and vegetables work best their climate and grew a garden. Then she taught them about how homeless people have high sodium diets and they donated the fresh fruits and vegetables to the soup kitchens and shelters in the Atlanta area.
Earlier this month she was being honored for a project she designed for Read-Across-America day. Her high school special education students work with other special education students at the pre-kindergarten level to help them with reading. Her class wrote a Seuss-style children's book and donated copies to local elementary schools and local libraries.
My sister wrote to me today:
"B and I went to cheer on mom at the award show this week. She was the first one honored but we both agreed they should have called her up to the podium and give her an award. Then we proceeded to cry as each kid Pre-K thru 12 was awarded!"
Her father refused to pay for his daughters to go to college so she worked her way through college in 3 years to get a BS in Jounalism, then worked my dad through law school, and then went to Columbia for a BFA in photography. It wasn't until I was in 8th grade that she decided to get a degree in Special Education. My father is a lawyer, so even with 5 children she didn't have to get a job. She works because she honestly cares so much about making a positive difference in the world.
Oh and did I mention that the reason I have camped in 48 different states is because my mother took all 5 of us- in one van- camping across the US, every summer for 4 years. (occasionally my father would fly out to meet us when he could get off work)
Happy Mother's Day.
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