(201) Family April/May 2017 | Page 9

KIDS CORNER best mom ever ! happy mother’s day to the F F ourteen years ago on a sunny September day, I came into this world and was welcomed by a loving, fun couple. I didn’t realize at the moment, but our world changed for the better. I have always wondered who came up with the idea of having moms. Or being a mom? All I can say is that I am one lucky girl to have mine. She is a loving, ener- getic, always smiling mom who knows and is friendly to everybody. She has gone through tragedy in life (like most people in this world), but she has turned hers into a special trait of teaching her kids and the people around her that life is special. I guess the “apple doesn’t fall from the tree,” as my Grammy is the same way. So I guess I am double lucky! I sometimes wonder what it would be like if I had a different mom because my life would be so different. My mom is always there for me and is always posi- tive, even when something is wrong. And she always has a smile on her face no matter what. It could be raining, snowing or miserable outside, and my mom’s reaction would be “it’s gorgeous out, right!” Did I mention her smile? It’s contagious. She makes everybody 201magazine.com around her feel good and that’s an understatement. As I get older and grow through my teenage years, my mom tells me every day that I can talk to her no matter what happens and she will never be mad about what I tell her. I wonder what it would be like if my mom was not like that. Some days we talk about school (even if I got a bad grade). I can tell her about my friendships or relation- ships I have made, or just life in general. I am in middle school so a lot goes on – believe me! My mom is a great listener and she always guides me to make the right decision without tell- ing me what to do. My mom teaches me something different every day, whether it is something I need help with in school or if there’s something I’m struggling with in sports, especially in lacrosse (where she excelled as a player), or if it is just something in life that I did not know. No matter what it is, my mom is always there for me. I could go on and on about my mom, but I only get so much space in the magazine! So I just want to say thank you to my mom for all you do for me (and my brothers and dad), and I hope that I can turn out to be a mom as great as you. Happy Mother’s Day! I love you to the moon and back! ● – GRACE OLLENDIKE Glen Rock (201) FAMILY | APRIL/MAY 2017 7