FAMILY blog
W e know all moms work hard to provide
My best childhood memories are the simple things my
for their families and make the future a
mom did for us and with us. Like the smell of homemade
brighter place for their children. They
chocolate pudding as we walked through the door after
give endless hugs and kisses, manage
school, stopping for ice cream on the way home on
the family calendar, drive countless carpools, chaperone
warm days, spending time with just my sisters and mom
field trips and cheer from the sidelines at their kids’
biking down the C&O Canal and paddle boating at Lake
many sporting events. They are a shoulder to cry on
Needwood. As a mother, I try to replicate the simple things
and our biggest cheerleader. To show our gratitude and
that brought me so much joy and obviously left a lasting
recognition, Washington FAMILY Magazine has dedicated
memory. our May issue to honoring some amazing local mothers.

My own mother set such a high standard of motherhood.

I work every day to create the same secure and special
environment she did. Her never-ending support and energy
still make me realize she’s the one person I want to call for
My mom has taught me the enormity of being a mother
— a job of endless hours without a paycheck, sick days or
holiday leave. Although I may complain, I wouldn’t have it
any other way. I could never bear the thought of someone
else wiping away their tears or being there to hear about
advice. their school day.

My mom will always be my role model when navigating this
I cherish overhearing their imagination explode as they play
crazy game of motherhood. Her ever-echoing voice in my
head reminds me my three little boys are my greatest gift.

When I call my mom to share a story, she always reminds
in the basement, and love watching them create a fort made
out of pillows, stuffed animals and blankets. Everyone has
warned me these precious days will go by too quickly; as the
me to see the good in everyone and everything.

saying goes, the days are LONG, but the years are SHORT.

She also taught me the meaning of hard work. I watched
I wish all of you moms a very happy Mother’s Day. We
her stain furniture, make us dresses for special occasions,
paint our bedrooms and hang wallpaper. As a perfectionist,
know you don’t hear it nearly enough, but a huge “thank
you” for all you do, on Mother’s Day and every day!
I saw her struggle to allow us to make our projects our own.

It took all of her strength not to comment that we added
too much glue or the lines weren’t straight. She cringed a
little watching us do our own laundry and make our own
beds. She lived in fear that we would overload the washing
machine and flood the house!
But, in the end, she taught us to not bother doing things if
we weren’t going to do them the right way. I, too, struggle
to find the balance of teaching my own children to do things
independently when I can do them faster and neater. But I
remember how my mom made me a stronger, more capable
person by letting me learn on my own.

Julie Turco
Account Executive
Washington FAMILY Magazine
jturco@thefamilymagazine.com 6 May 2016 washingtonFAMILY.com