Mother's Day:
Students pay tribute to the most important women in their lives

This mom really plays for keeps

By Valerie Coleman
Capital High School

When Kristine Lilly, who is a notable women’s soccer player, was asked to recall her earliest soccer memory, her immediate response was “Oranges! I remember them at halftime. I lived for those wedges!”

But who supplied those oranges? Dedicated mothers to the sport of soccer did. We call them “Soccer Moms,” and I believe I have one of the greatest.

Throughout my life, my mom has always been there when it comes to soccer. When I was younger, she celebrated my life by supporting me in soccer as well as in other things. Today, she continues to show her love for me through her support of the sport I enjoy. Her dedication to me and to the sport of soccer makes her the best soccer mom ever.

When I was in elementary school and just starting to play soccer, my mom was always there to support me. She would cheer for me from the stands in hopes that I would score.

Soon, little number seven emerged from the mass of green jerseys and made her way down the field, scoring goal after goal. That’s when my mom promised me $1 for each goal I scored. This only helped me gain interest in the game, and helped me to improve. My mom also brought the team juice and brownies at halftime, which was definitely one of the best parts of the game.

My soccer career definitely has changed, and with it, so has my mom. Good ol’ Mom is still there supporting me not only at games, but at practices and tryouts, too. She even decided to be the director of an indoor soccer tournament that I was playing in. This just shows that her love for the game has grown over the years.

Today’s halftime treats are no longer brownies and juice, although I wish they were. Now, it’s water or Gatorade to replenish the fluids in my body and maybe a Snickers bar for a little energy boost. But it’s all still supplied by my mother.

My mom’s advice also has changed over my soccer-playing years. Currently, she helps me with decisions on which teams I should try out for and assists me in balancing soccer and softball. I must say that she is a huge part of my decision-making.

My mom’s dedication to soccer and to me is incredible. My mom and my father both drive me hundreds of miles every month for soccer-related activities. My parents also spend a great deal of money in order for me to play with certain teams and trainers. This really shows that they believe in me and that they are behind me 100 percent.

My mother has recently taken up soccer herself. She plays in a women’s league every Sunday with women her age. Every Sunday night after her games, we switch our roles of player and mother for a moment so she can tell me all the fun she had that night and how much better she could have done. This truly makes me content because I know that without my love for the game, my mother would not have found her love for the game, either.

Not every soccer player can say her mom is supportive and always there. Some players go on with their soccer careers without the support and guidance of their mothers. Many never have the chance to hear their mom yelling and cheering them on from the sidelines.

Thankfully, my mother cheers me on at every game. I am humbled and thankful for her support and one day I hope to express my gratitude through my success as an adult.

Meet a mom with many sides

By Catherine Miller
Capital High School

What is my mom like?

My mom has many different sides to her personality. She has her teacher side, her crazy side and her proper side. Each side is very interesting and unique.

Her teacher side comes in handy when she is at work. She is proper when we have guests over for dinner parties. Her crazy side comes out when she cuts loose and has fun with life.

Mom is an English teacher. There is hardly any conversation we have that she does not correct my speech. She normally talks correctly, but I am sure to catch her when she does not. This is just one of the things that makes her smart.

She has been teaching for 28 years; she has collected a lot of information over the years. She knows everything from the ABCs to every act in every play Shakespeare has written.

Her craziness could very well be one of the most entertaining things about her. She could tell the worst joke in the world and turn it into the funniest thing anyone has ever heard. She has a very infectious laugh. Whenever you hear it, you just cannot help but laugh right along with her.

One of the best things she does is dance. Any time a good song comes on, she will just “groove” until it’s over. Mom is definitely interesting when she is hyper.

Mom is also very proper. She can set a dinner table as if she worked at the White House. She has taught my sister and I everything we need to know about meeting new people, going to formal dinners and hosting dinner parties. My grandmother taught her well.

Every holiday, we have family over for dinner. Mom has become a perfectionist when it comes to dining. Everything must be in the right place at the right time. She also can decorate the house and make it look like we hired a professional to do it. Whether it is flowers, wreaths or candles, she can make it look fantastic. She makes dirt look like gold.

My mother may be a complicated person, but she will always be unpredictable. She uses all of her qualities in all the right ways. She has managed to raise two children and stay married to my father for 28 years.

She has many more sides to her, but these, I think, are the most important ones. Each of her different sides makes up whom she is. I would not change any of them for the world.

Mom earns a big 'A' for appreciation

By Emily Basile
Capital High School

Many people ask why I appreciate my mom so much.

First of all, my mom deals with my older sister and me fighting all the time. We fight over stupid little things, and Mom always tries to be fair. Unlike many other mothers, she gives us the chance to correct our mistakes or change something. She gives us many privileges, too, and lots of trust to make the right decisions.

Another reason I appreciate my mom is because she takes care of the family and the house while my dad is at work. My dad is a lawyer and he has to work many hours and sometimes go out of town. My mom always has dinner ready and waiting for us when we get home, no matter how tired she is or how hard her day has been. She also keeps the house organized and clean.

Even though she has all of this to do, my mom still spends time with us and asks us how our day was. She might not know it, but that means a lot to us.

The most important reason I appreciate my mom is the love and care that she gives toward my little sister, Sarah.

Sarah is disabled and unable to feed herself or do many other simple tasks that we all take for granted. My mom feeds Sarah late at night when she would rather be in bed asleep. She also reads to her because she knows that Sarah needs all the interaction she can get. She encourages us to read to her, too.

Mainly, my mom makes sure that Sarah has all her treatments and does everything she can to help her. Day after day, my mom is running out to doctors’ offices to bring Sarah in for a checkup or therapy.

My mom may not know it, but she means a lot to me. I truly do not know what I would do without her in my life. She has always been there for me, and I know that she always will be.