7 minute read
Reflections of Momma
By Metta Marie Archilla
Phyllis Evelyn Mooney-Zigenbein. Mom. Words cannot express the gratefulness and appreciation I feel for you! Neither can I define the thanks I give you for everything you have done for me. You have always been there for me, through right and wrong, and have shown me the way. You have always pushed me to be the best that I could be and man, oh man, I know I was a hyper handful! You were my greatest influence, an influence that will stay with me always. Mom is my guiding light. She is the beacon in the lighthouse, calling me home always. Momma taught me that kindness was necessary and helping others was just what we do, daily. She raised me to be strong and independent. But no matter what, I will always be her little girl. I will always need my mom. I thank her for the lessons she taught me and those she
teaches me still at a frail 94. Momma taught me to smile in the face of hardship and to believe in myself, no matter what anyone says. I thank her for always making me feel unconditionally loved and appreciated and for instilling in me a sense of worth that I am good enough in the eyes of the Lord, that I do matter. As Momma struggles with this final grace in her life as late-stage Dementia takes hold, she still manages to laugh and smile through my stupid jokes and crazy little stories. What a remarkable woman to fight her last and still make me feel beautiful through gentle reminders that the world isn’t ending even, when I think it is. But mostly, I thank her for being the most wonderful mother imaginable, I can’t ever be the Mom I felt she was to that scared inner child I was growing up, but I sure do hope to one day become half the woman she continues to be: strong, beautiful, and intelligent. Thank you, Momma for loving Ashlynn, your “Grandcub,” and for co-parenting this young lady who is learning to make her own way in this big bad world. You have taught her as you did me, to buckle up and dig in, because life ain’t fair much of the time. But for your gentle hand helping to carve her tender and beautiful heart, thank you HUGE for THAT. Day and night, Momma taught me patience, (although I’m still working on that). At bedtime, she taught me how to pray. Momma would sing children’s songs to me until I would fall
asleep. I thank her for loving me when I didn’t feel lovable. I was to her, and THAT mattered. Now, as the tide turns and her mind betrays her body, I am blessed to be able to sing my mom to sleep every night. As I take off her tiny slippers and socks, she lays her glasses carefully on the nightstand beside her, and I tuck her in with our favorite lullaby, “Jesus Loves Me.” Yes, her meds help suppress the visions that severe Sundowners shower upon her, but my voice, the melody, the security of knowing God lives and we are safe, puts Momma to sleep, and for that, I’m grateful. Great trials are lived throughout our lives. People and instances test our character to mold and form us into better and braver people. Caring for my mom in this final phase of her life is a blessed gift; it teaches me patience, understanding, and love as I care for her, a child regressing without the hope of what once was. In this, I am happy. She chose me 54 years ago; I choose her now. I choose to support her with the safety of my presence as she has provided me with a safe haven for all of my life. Each one of us has an “expiration date.” Experts have determined Mom’s, but I say only the Lord knows the day and the hour. Our family lives every single day as Mother’s Day because any day could be her last. Momma, I love you more than you can possibly imagine, but still, I know you have loved me so much more. Thank you for my life. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for being my mom! Happy Mother’s Day, Momma.
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by Liz Arrington
Do you remember your favorite teacher? What grade were you in? What do you remember about them? What did they do that made them your favorite? How has that influenced the person you are today? The influence of a great teacher truly lasts a lifetime. I have many vivid memories of exceptional teachers I had growing up. As a parent- I am grateful for so many dedicated teachers who have made an impact in our lives. I wish I could individually recognize the educators at our Cy-Fair ISD schools who have gone above and beyond to nurture my boys’ love of learning, passion for science, and appreciation for the arts and music. Weaving their dreams for the future into their education and providing the perfect balance of unconditional love and persistent encouragement. If you are a teacher who is reading this right now, please know how incredibly valuable you are. It’s about that time of year for Teacher Appreciation weeks. A chance for administrators and parents to shower our educators with well-deserved gifts, special meals, coffee delivery, and sweet treats. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Teacher Appreciation week takes place during the most difficult part of the year. Those final warm spring months of a loooong school year with testing, year-end programs and events on top of stir-crazy kids who are ready for a break! There are so many creative and thoughtful ways to show your appreciation for teachers. Gifts are always very nicepersonalized cookies, coffee gift cards, fun supplies for the classroom like Sharpies or pretty Post It Notes, mini charcuterie boxes and even bottles of wine! But teacher appreciation doesn’t have to be costly, and it doesn’t have to be reserved for one week of the year. In fact, it shouldn’t be! Here are some specific ways you can show your appreciation for teachers- year round: ● Donate classroom supplies throughout the school year, not just at the beginning ● Assume your teacher has your child’s best interest in mind ● Tell them when they do something awesome! Share with them ways that your child is showing what they’ve learned at home, or a lesson your child was excited about. ● Respect their hours and try to email within those hours, be patient in waiting for a response. ● Email the principal and brag on your child’s teacher. ● Provide context, not excuses. If a teacher is reporting an issue with your child, help the teacher by providing information that supports understanding and solutions. ● Help where you can, whether it’s volunteering for field trip duty, sharpening pencils or cutting out shapes! Not sure how to help? Just ask! ● Recognize ALL teachers and support staff. Music, Art, PE,
Librarians, paraprofessionals, there is likely a whole team of passionate educators working with your child! ● Be informed about the workings of the school and the district. Become familiar with how decisions are made, who is in charge, and what their qualifications are. ● Get involved! Local non-partisan groups, such as the Cy-
Fair Civic Alliance, are an excellent resource to engage, get information, and connect with other people in our community. Above all- teachers need and deserve to feel supported by their community. They need to be recognized and compensated for their gifts and abilities. They need involved parents who are advocating for and with them. These past few years have been impossibly hard on educators… on all of us. As a community, we can help by approaching teachers with compassion and true appreciation for the critical role they play in shaping our next generation, trusting in their expertise, and giving them the credit that they have earned. Let’s start today- three cheers for teachers!!! We love you!
