Perhaps no other celebration during the year brings out the best heart-warming stories as those surrounding Mother’s Day. It seems the gift of words rather than material things is what matters most.
This certainly applies to Rebecca “Becca” James, a senior at Mission Bay High School, who is headed to college in Colorado this fall. Becca, who lives with her family in La Jolla, nominated her mother in the “San Diego’s 50 Best Moms” essay contest sponsored by Time Warner Cable.
“I saw the promotion for it on television and, in part because I will be going away to college, thought it would be a nice thing to do for her,” Becca said. “In addition to being my mother she is also my best friend.”
The guidelines apply to anyone from 4th through 12th grade, and the essay must be 150 to 500 words in length on why their respective mother is the best. In the seven years of the contest, more than 10,000 children have submitted essays.
Becca, while hoping to win like all other entrants, decided to take a creative approach with her entry, and instead of an essay she wrote a poem. It so impressed the judges that her mother, Michele, has been chosen as one of the 50 Best Moms in San Diego County.
“The fact she wanted to do this, what a gift,” Michele said. “That she took the time to do this and found it important enough. It makes my day.”
Michele said she had no idea her daughter had submitted an entry and was home sick the day a representative of Time Warner Cable called to notify her of being selected.
“I was so shocked,” she said. “The woman who called me said she was going to read the poem and both of us would probably start crying, which we did.”
However, for Becca, it is one way to thank the most important person in her life. Like many young people, they find out during those challenging moments in their lives how great it is to have wonderful parents.
“Whether it is school or sports or something else which was creating difficulty, my mother would always listen, we would talk and she would tell me at the end of the day there is always another day,” Becca said. “We have always learned from and appreciated each other.”
Her mother feels the same way but also believes she is the lucky one.
“I am the one who has been blessed. I have two children who have made being a mother a wonderful experience,” Michele said. “If you love your kids unconditionally, then you give them the best chance for success. I look at what Becca has done for me. She is an incredible young woman.”
The poem, which is more than 400 words, concludes with thoughts which signify the close relationship between mother and daughter. It reads:
You are the biggest part of me
So I am giving you the key
The key to love and happiness too
You gave me wings and we flew
It was meant to be,
God does agree
Together forever
we will always be
Mother and Daughter,
in love and in glee
Love always, me
The Best Moms and their families will celebrate their recognition during a luncheon at the Hyatt Aventine Saturday, May 10. In addition to an award, each winner will receive a gift bag containing certificates for movies, restaurants, theater tickets and much more.
Each essay is judged according to the school level of elementary, middle and high school. Each level will have an individual winner and those people will receive new Sony VAIO laptop computers, and their teacher will win a $250 gift card for school supplies.