Mothers Day.........

I've talked before about my love for Nie Nie and Cjane............a few months ago, Nie Nie announced an essay contest that was "Motherhood is...." 

And I was going to enter.

And I thought and thought and thought about it for an entire month.

And then I missed the deadline.

So here is what I wrote....and I sent it on April 1st, one day late.  More for myself than for anything else.

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I know I missed the deadline even though I've known about this since February....so even if it's never read by anyone, I'm sending this more for me, than for anything else.


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I'm fortunate everyday to spend my life with youth and teens who call me "Mama" Mindy. Many have their own moms. Many have lost their own mothers. But I seem to spend more time with these kids than their own families.


My official title is Branch Executive of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley Compadre Branch Chandler. What that really means is I make sure that my kids have what they need in life. I make sure they have new clothes for school, tennis shoes on their feet that fit them, food in their stomach's and a place to be everyday until 9pm. But as important as all of that is, my biggest role is that of a listener and supporter. I attend IEP conferences, dance performances and college graduations. But I've also attended court hearings and visited with probation officers. With all of the joy I receive from my kids, I also have the sorrow and sadness of feeling like I've failed some of them.



So much of the inner strength I've learned to have has come from watching my mom raise four girls to become strong, independent, successful women. The pure delight she sees when we are happy or do something amazing is the same reaction I have for my kids.....I just have a few hundred of them.




I am often asked if I have kids and I tell them that I have the Club. I was born to be a mother, I've always been told that, I've always known that deep inside. But the role of motherhood is different for everyone and for me, it comes in the title of Branch Executive. If I can provide hope & opportunity, I've done my job well. Hope is an amazing, dynamic way of believing and I truly think I believe I'm doing what I was born to do.






I'm being a mother.