"Mother Knows Best" contest entries

Here are all of the entries we received for our "Mother Knows Best" contest: Happy Mother's Day!

Mother: Mary Lou Jurina of Youngstown

Daughter: Mary Lou Puskar of Canfield

Without a Doubt — Mother Knows Best

Let me introduce you to my mother, Mary Lou Jurina, AKA, our family’s “Auntie Mame,”

If it wasn’t for this 80-year-old 4- foot -11 1/2 inch tall human dynamo with her common sense wisdom, I might not have become the person I am today.

My mother lives by her vast collection of sayings, but the one she taught me the most is “The brain that snoozes, loses.”

She taught me that if I don’t believe in myself, why should I expect others to?

These are my mother’s words, “Mary Lou from the time we are born we are put into an invisible boxing ring and we become pugilists. Life is a battle.”

“Not for everyone,” I would argue, “Some people are born with silver spoons in their mouths. They don’t have to fight for anything because it is just handed to them.”

“Wrong,” she’d say, “They have to fight to keep what they have.

“From the time a baby is born it fights by crying to have its needs met. We are given tools to survive with, our minds, our hearts and our souls, and if we believe in ourselves, just like every bird must make its own nest, we too will succeed and pass the test,” another of my mom’s sayings and beliefs.

Because of my mom, “I’m a chip off the old block,” and as a mother myself I hope I become a priceless treasure to my children as my mother is to me.

“Happy Mother’s Day — I love you” from one Mary Lou to another. “

Mother: Margaret DePascale Orlando of Youngstown

Daughter: Mary Jo Olson of Poland

Our mother, Margaret DePascale Orlando, is still cooking for us! She will be 91 years old on May 9th - the day after Mother’s Day.

She drives to Rulli’s Market in Austintown several times a week to purchase fresh meats, vegetables and fruits for her culinary creations. The daughter of Joseph (a butcher), and Virginia DePascale, her family lived above their small “mom and pop” store in Brier Hill.

She and my dad (a retired Youngstown fire captain) still call Youngstown home, where she can be found making her weekly Brier Hill pizzas (both red and white!) for her family to enjoy.

My sisters and I consider her to be a master chef and consult with her constantly for clarification of time-tested recipes and for her opinion on the current chefs of the Food Channel.

I hope you and others enjoy the thoughts I arranged as verses regarding an amazing lady - our Mom.

A daughter of young immigrant parents, you see

Her family’s last century voyage from towns of Italy

For freedom and education were calling - powerful connections for them

And Brier Hill beckoned of generations and friends

Our mother was nurtured to cook from the heart

To her, food was a comfort, a blessing, an art

To be tasted with neighbors and stranger and all

No matter how great, or number so small

Holiday gatherings, weddings, feasts of the church

She labored long hours to serve meals from the hearth

A death or a birth, our mother would share

Homemade sauces and soups, her gifts she would bear

All Sundays, at midday, feasts fit for a king

She worshiped the secrets her father would bring

The aromas, the hues, the textures and more

Our senses transport to a time we adored

The stained, handwritten notes of weights and good measure

Are kept tenderly, as silver and gold - our very own treasure

Never go empty-handed, tho the gift will not last

An offering of food links the present and past

Those following shall reap a great bounty from this

A tradition of stories - her recipes gift and enrich

We are to be salt - to flavor lives of others

To strengthen, to comfort - magnificent mothers

Lessons of life learned by the breaking of bread

Thank you, Mama, the kitchen left nothing unsaid

For our mother knew well, faith, family and friends

Sustain memories from the heart - never to end.

Mother: Beth Schutz of Canfield

Daughter: Sabrina Eaton of Canfield

Mother Knows Best

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you’ve understood you whole life, but in a new way. A true learner herself, Doris Lessing shines the light on the idea of learning. Being a teacher myself, I have developed a deeper appreciation and respect for my mom, who undoubtedly was my first and favorite teacher. Yes, I did learn how to be a diligent housekeeper, a kind nurse, and a punctual chauffeur, however, her greatest role was that of a teacher, where I seemed to capture life lessons without knowing it!

I know what a challenge it is to relay and guide teenagers in the right path through life. First of all, teenagers “know” everything. I was no different at that age! I thought I knew all the right things to say, all the right moves to make, and all the responses to life’s journey. In reality, I didn’t have a clue! My mom would always say, “One day you’ll understand when you have your own kids!” That saying would resonate and stick with me throughout college, marriage and motherhood. Without her even knowing it, she was teaching and I was learning many valuable lessons. You see, what I leaned from my mom was to go through life with three things - patience, grace and love.

Through her own patience with bringing me up, my mom taught me that good things come to those who wait. I never thought I would go to a dance or wear a beautiful gown, find the man of my dreams, or be a mother myself. Today, I am blessed with all three!

Grace grew through me, as I watched my mom’s own grace shower everything she did. Grace beamed brightly as she mothered three young children, while my dad traveled for work. My mom emulated grace through her gently ways with the patients she saw being a nurse. Her undulating attention when she was my bulwark through tough times was just as contagious!

Love was intertwined in everything my mom did. Love could be tasted in her famous french toast. Love could be heard in her melodious voice each and every day. Love was always felt in our home and hearts growing up.

Mom knew best, even when she didn’t know it! She was a teacher, even though her degree was in nursing. I though I knew best, until I grew up and understood what mom represented. She was right in saying I would understand when I became a mother! Just like a typical day in my classroom, I don’t think my students are listening, but deep down, they are. And, one day, they too will learn something they never expected, as I did. Thank you Mom for teaching me patience, grace and love without even knowing it. As a teenager, I though I knew best, but as a mother, I know “moms know best!” Happy Mother’s Day Mom! Thanks for a real lesson about life.

Mother: Gurley M. Manners of Lancaster, Pa.

Daughter: Melodee A. Titus of Youngstown

Mother made holidays magic. Now, I don’t just mean the big ones (Thanksgiving and Christmas). My mother is an artist.

When I was very small I followed her, offered help, tried to imitate her every action, but mostly stood in awe of her ability to turn our rather modest, old house into a wondrous land. Things sparkled, vegetables took shape - how many kids wouldn’t eat a carrot shaped like puppies or kittens? She painted seasonal pictures with color and water, cut them, and placed them underneath the clear, glass candlewick plates. What a way to turn great-grandmother’s table and worn cloth into a most beautiful spectacle!

My little brothers and I would rush to the table to see what sights awaited us this time.

Halloween was costume time and mother made them all. My brother was a robot and I was Minnie Mouse complete with a gigantic paper maché head and red polka-dot dress.

Downtown Brookville had a Halloween parade - prizes for the best costumes were silver dollars. It was always dark, I was always simultaneously wildly excited and extremely scared. And I always knew we would win the silver dollars.

Once, just because it was Easter, she painted two large rabbits on cardboard boxes from refrigerators and/or stoves, etc. (She was perpetually begging for scrap lumber, cardboard or anything her students could use for projects). Mother cut out places for faces in the boxes and Chuck and I played with them for hours. She took pictures. I should find them.

She set a table so beautifully and never spared or saved the best. It was always spent or used.

Two of my favorite things were the pineapple turkeys and the snowballs. For as long as I can remember, mother made the Thanksgiving centerpiece from a pineapple. So carefully would she cut the tail feathers from colored construction paper into bright ellipses and insert them into the leaves. The head, brown and red and double-sided, was carefully attached with straight pins or common pins as she used to like to say. (I wonder why someone ever called the common pins?) I though the pineapple turkeys were magnificent especially when I was little. They were practically the eighth wonder of the world. But I though just about everything mother made or did was like that.

Christmas dinner was always a sumptuous feast - we waited for dessert. “Snowballs! Snowballs shouted excitedly. Not too loudly because our father really did subscribe to the theory that children should be seen and not heard. Tim was still busy piling mashed potatoes on grandma’s homemade bread. The strawberry jam would be next. Snowballs were perfect globes of rich vanilla ice cream rolled in coconut and decorated with holy sprigs, and small red birthday-size candles. She would turn out the lights and light the candles. We made wishes, blew out the candles and turned the lights back on.

Mother lives with me now. Two days before Thanksgiving I bought a pineapple for her to turn into a turkey. She’s still making magic for me.

Mother: Blanche McLaughin of Youngstown

Daughter: JoAnn Winterbauer of McDonald

I believe the most important thing my mother taught us is that there is no more fulfilling or rewarding job or career in life than that of being a wife, mother, grandmother and friend. My mother is 95 1⁄2- years old, she was widowed at age 45 and devoted her entire life to her children, grandchildren, siblings and friends.

Her home has been a haven for many over the years. Her own mother lived with her throughout my mother and father’s married life and until my grandmother’s death.

My great aunt took shelter there after a broken hip left her unable to live alone. My mother’s sister lived alone and moved in with Mom to escape the loneliness.

Mom now shares her home with my sister Rosie, who is Mom’s guardian and caregiver. Not that Mom needs much care; at 95 1⁄2 she still outruns us to the door of the casino or bingo hall and just recently said she wished she could go roller skating with her grandchildren.

She still insists that she could drive to Mountaineer with no trouble at all (Thank God she failed the vision test at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles!) .

Mom has survived the Great Depression, the death of her father at a very young age, the death of her husband, also at a very young age, the loss of all of her brothers and sisters and two grandsons, and a lifetime of narcolepsy, yet she still keeps a happy outlook.

She has raised six children, has 26 grandchildren and we have lost count of the great grandchildren.

Mom’s biggest dream (Yes, she still has dreams!) is to get on Cash Explosion and win big money to help out her grandchildren.

My mother is an amazing woman.

Mother: Darlene McKelley of Youngstown

Daughter: Trina McKelley-Carlisle of Columbus

The one thing my mother taught me growing up was not to try to be such a perfectionist. She always stayed on me during my school years when I would constantly redo assignments and projects, never satisfied with the end result. I knew I was capable of the very best, but was my own worst critic. She would prevent me from wasting time and helped me to focus on things that required more attention. This proved to be quite beneficial for me in high school and college when the workload did not allow for constant revisions. Over the years I accepted the fact that I can’t be the best at everything. Many of the struggles and shortcomings I have had thus far have helped to shape my life and make me the person I am today. I still give my best each time I attempt something, but when I think that my best is not good enough, I think of my wonderful mother. She taught me that the mistakes made in life, only prepare you to make wiser choices in the future. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I did not have my mother in my life and even though I may not be perfect person, in her eyes I always will be a perfect daughter.

Mother: Mariann Pacak of Campbell

Daughter: Marcia Pacak of Boardman

While growing up in a catholic family, I was not one to really understand God’s purpose in life. I always got mad at him when the ones I loved were taken from this world. My mother used to say to “Marcia, just pray to God and he will answer your payers and guide you throughout this wonderful journey called life”. We all know that kids never agree with the parent, in this case mom. I struggled with this for years on end until we were hit with some very sad news. y father was in need of a liver transplant. I began to pray and pray to God more often: attended more church functions and read more about spirituality. My father underwent the surgery and came through with flying colors. I thought to myself , “Mom was right”. Twelve years later we had another scare with my father again. He was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent major surgery and 12 weeks of chemotherapy. It was most difficult for him since he was taking anti rejection medication for his transplant and in order to get chemotherapy, he had to stop taking them. We were all very scared, but we all knew that God would guide us once again as a family and get through it. This is my experience with “Mother Knows Best”.

Mother: Christine Morgan of Canton

Daughter: Samantha Morgan of Girard

To think of just one thing that my mother has taught me throughout the years seems impossible. Her advice, her thoughts and her guidance is what made me the strong woman I am today. So to really think of just one thing that has been helpful to me would be her telling me that “Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, believe in yourself and just have faith.” This has helped me so many times, and I continue to be thankful to have such an amazing mother!

Mother: The late Helen Harry, who lied in Warren

Daughter: Joan Kerosky of Cortland

When I received gifts as a young child, I would have to write the obligatory Thank You Notes. his was my mom’s rule. And, I did not like it! I could not write “Thank you for the pajamas”. had to be creative, and add other information. This was not a favorite task, but as life rolled on, it became evident that it helped me in many aspects of my life!!

1. Writing at school was a joy. Writing research papers in college was like putting together a puzzle! Writing came naturally to me. All that “at home practice” paid off in my education!
2. Making and keeping friends - staying in touch with people keeps you close! I not only wrote to my friends when I got gifts, I sent cards and letters on a regular basis. My friends will assure you, Joan writes a real letter!! "I never sent Christmas cards with form letters - always handwritten notes!! So, the thank you notes eventually evolved into letter writing. (and friend preservation!)
3. In my career, I had to write reports. Never a problem. Lots of co-workers complained, I didn’t! Report writing flowed right off my pen!! Last, but not least, interview thank you letters, and cover letters for résumés....no stress! I just let my creative juices flow.
   

Letter writing is fast becoming a lost art. Of course, my mom was an avid letter writer. For years, I saved all her letters in my top dresser drawer - a chronicle of our family’s lives packed into that drawer and not only that, my mom’s sweet personality folded into the pages. There’s something soothing about seeing her handwriting too. During some long days after she passed away in December of 2009, I reread all of her letters that she had sent me over the years. So many memories were savored, and her pure love poured out on those pages.

Her legacy to me, was teaching me to write. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, what a fantastic lesson that provided me in life, and it also brought so much joy to myself and my friends.

Mother: The late Ada R. Miller, who lived in Columbiana

Daughter: Irene Houk of Poland

I best remember my mother because of her love, guidance, and inspiration! My memories have vividly lived on for many years, as mom passed away in 1972.

My mom, was the directoress of nursing for Youngstown Hospital, and her brilliant mind and warm sense of caring was definitely her trademark.

Mom lost her eyesight during her pregnancy with my younger sister. With the impairment, she was limited by physical boundaries but her sense of caring for each of her children was enhanced.

I am fortunate that the greatest gift my mother shared with me was the gift of sharing and caring for family and others. Each and everyday, as I fulfill my role as a mother, grandmother, and yes even great-grandmother, I reflect back to the valuable lessons I learned from one of my greatest teachers in life, my mom. Every day is Mother’s Day for me as I remember my mom, and do my best to be the kind of mom she was to my family.

Mother: Deirdre Turner of Youngstown

Daughter: Ceeairrah VanCobb of Youngstown

What my mother knows best is compassion. Until recently, I had never realized that I learned compassion in the kitchen of my childhood home. There were times that homeless people, who were also drug addicts, graced our table for meals and it was the furthest thing from unusual. These were people forgotten by society but remembered respectfully by my mother. She allowed them the dignity of a warm place to eat, sleep, and shower as if they were her own children. Her embrace of people whom others often didn’t give a second chance or look left an indelible mark on my spirit. I didn’t understand it then, but it taught me that compassion is the greatest thing we can give another human being. My mother, Deirdre, taught with an extraordinary example the words: “There, but the grace of God, go I.”

Mother: Maggie Forde

Daughter: Gabriella Forde

The one thing my mom has taught me that I did not agree with at the time but I realized that my mom’s advice helped me through rough times. It is not easy being a teenager I have been teased ,bullied, and have had to overcome a lot of obstacles in my life. My mom is a single mom and has raised me to be the best person I can. The best advice my mom taught me was to just be myself and do not try to be like someone else. My mom taught me an important lesson in life and that is to be my own person. To look at who I am as an individual. Most important to look at my “inner beauty” as that compliments the outer beauty. My mom always told me to believe in myself and never give up, and she taught me if you set your mind to it you can accomplish anything. Perservance and determination play an important role even if other people bring you down and say mean things. My mom told me “Do not let them get to you.” She also told me to me to respect everyone no matter of color race and beliefs. To be kind to everyone even if they are not kind to me. My mom has taught me to have faith in God and has taught me to have morals and values and she has taught me the most important lesson in life to love one another and love who I am because I am special and God created us each to have a purpose in life. My purpose is to be the best person and daughter because I owe my mom that for all she has sacrificed for me and taught me. My mom is a teacher in her profession and she is not only a teacher, a housekeeper, a short-order cook, chauffeur, nurse, and many more but she is my best friend and I love her very much I know I can tell her anything and talk to her as she always gives me great advice that I will take with me always. I truly appreciate my mom,who she is and all she has done for me. If I could be like anyone in the world I would want to be just like her. She is my role model and the one person I admire the most in my life.

Besides being an teacher she also works two jobs and goes to school to support me and give me things in life. My mom and myself have been through a lot of disappointments and hardaches in our lives. There were times I would come home crying because I did not get picked for something that I wanted really bad and worked really hard for. My mom has taught me to not look back at the past but to look ahead of what the future holds. To learn from the challenges and disappointments that because it just wanted meant to be right now and with patience my time will come where I reach for my dreams. What my mom has taught me and the advice she has given me have made me a stronger person. But I have realized it does not matter if my dreams come true or not it doesn’t matter because I know I will have my mom right beside me and we have each other and that is the best thing I could ever wish for to get me through my life. She has touched my life in so many ways as well as all the children she has taught in her classroom. She is the best mother ever! After all my mother knows best!

Mother: Mona Gilliland of Girard

Daughter: Vanessa Houk of Girard

Mother Knows Best

We spend the first half of our lives trying to find out who we are and how we can be different from everyone else (especially our mothers). Then we spend the latter part of our lives trying to reconnect with everyone we pushed away whilst we were trying to be “different”. I’m here to tell you there is nothing wrong with being a little bit like your mother. Personally I think I turned out just fine and dandy.

Out of everything thing that I have learned from my dear sweet Mum (and yes there are more things then I would like to admit) I believe that the lesson of listening is what seems to be most predominate. For the majority of my life when my mother spoke it sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Most of what she and any adult said usually went in one ear and out the other. When I did “listen” most of the time I only listened to the first part of what people were saying and then I prejudged what the remainder of it was. I would then start talking over them and walk out in a huff. I believe most of the arguments with my mother started and ended in such a manner.

Throughout the trials and tribulations in my life I continued down this path (let me tell you it doesn’t really work). Finally one day, a few years back, I was in from out of town for a visit. I was sitting there having a heart to heart with my Mom and she asked me to listen without judgment. I sat there and I listened (all the while biting my tongue) and listened and listened and you know what happened then? I understood what she was saying. She no longer sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. She sounded like a real person who knew what she was talking about. She sounded like a person I could relate to. Wow, what an epiphany this was. My whole relationship changed just by me listening. Something so simple and yet it was so difficult for me to do up unto this point.

Listening and more importantly listening without judgment is something I now use in my everyday life. A life lesson begrudgingly learned from my mother. A lesson that has brought me closer to my mother and everyone in my life. True to form Mother does know best.

Mother: Brooke Banks

Daughter: Maddie Banks

Attached is a photo of my daughter-in-law Brooke Banks and my granddaughter Maddie Banks, 4 yrs old, putting on lipstick. My own mother always said she couldn’t go anywhere without her “lips on”. Mommy is passing on the tradition to my granddaughter by allowing her to “put on her lips” under mommy’s careful watch. The photo was taken at their home in Grand Rapids, MI. It is one of my favorite pictures of both of them. Thank you for the opportunity to share it.

Submitted by: Lenore Banks (known as Nana to Maddie)

Mother: Rita Lohman of Canfield

Daughter: Sierra Lucas of Canfield

My name is Sierra Lucas, I am 18 years old, and about to graduate from South Range High School within the next month and a half. Through the years, my mother has tolerated a lot from me; in fact I don’t know how she still has any sanity left. She has helped me through the years with the good times and the hardships. Rita Joann Lohman is my best friend and yet she is my own worst enemy. However, if I had to chose one thing that she has taught me through the years it is how to be a responsible young woman. I love her for it now, but I hated her for it then. Thanks to my mother, I feel that I am pretty responsible for an 18 year old girl. Whether it is to my cleaning habits, how I take care of things, or what I do on a Saturday night my mother has taught me to be clean, respectable, and has taught me how to decipher what is right from wrong. I feel that compared to my classmates, I will make it in life a little more easier because of what my mother has taught me. She may not realize it, but her baby girl is growning into a beautiful, responsible young woman; and I have her to thank for that.