We all have fond childhood memories of gifts and celebrations we gave our mothers on their special day, and now, ones received from our own children. Enjoy these stories sent in by local moms of their sweet, silly and precious children on Mother’s Days past.


Every Mother’s Day gift from my daughter has been special, but one gift in particular touched my heart. My 7-year-old daughter, Taylor, made me a ceramic picture of her hand print and personalized it with her name and ribbon. She knew my favorite color was pink, so she used pink paint to make her hand print and pink ribbon to accessorize it. It melted my heart when she gave it to me and said, “Happy Mothers Day, Mommy! I know that pink is your favorite color, and I wanted to make something pink and special for you.” It just shows how much your children pay attention to the things you like and go out of their way to make you proud when you least expect it.

--Ashley Farmer, Phenix City


The sweetest Mother’s Day gift I ever received was on Mother’s Day 1998. It might have been flowers or a card, but honestly, it was the realization that I actually was able to celebrate Mother’s Day because I had given birth to our first daughter, Rachel, in August 1997. I am so grateful to God for His blessings—not only for our beautiful 11-year-old daughter, but this Mother’s Day will be very similar to 1998, as we now are blessed with our second beautiful daughter, Sarah Jayne, who was born September 2008.

Happy Mother’s Day 2009!

--Ann René DePietri, Seale


My sweetest Mother’s Day gift came from my two little girls, Jessica (then 7) and Megan (then 3) while my husband was doing a military tour in Korea in 2002. The girls woke early that morning and were rummaging through the kitchen. I was “commanded” to stay in bed and not come downstairs for any reason. About 30 minutes later the pair ascended the stairs to my bedroom with a tray. With beaming faces they proudly handed their mommy a breakfast tray spread for a queen. They had decorated the tray with a beautiful plastic flower from their toy collection, a cloth napkin, a placemat and mismatched silverware. For breakfast they served me cold, extremely thick, unsweetened oatmeal; burnt toast with grape jelly; a small, molding orange; a cup of OJ and a cup of milk. Then they each handed me the presents that Jessica had wrapped for them: a paperback romance novel and a plastic blue necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. All of this they did by themselves! I thanked them with hugs, tears and kisses. Then I sat back on the pillows and ate with a smile my Mother’s Day breakfast prepared with love by my little ladies. (Well, everything except the orange.)

--Desonuia Wise, Columbus

The truth is I am a wife and mother who doesn’t want money spent on me because my husband works two jobs to pay the bills, and I try to spend our money very wisely. I always tell him not to buy me anything or I’ll just return it. Last year he told me, “I am going to buy you a gift that is non-refundable so you will have to keep it.” A nice letter from my husband and a beautiful drawing from my children is more than enough for me, but he went to a trophy shop and had a plaque made up just for me. It read, “On this 11th day of May 2008, I would like to present to you The Mother For Life Award for being an outstanding and extraordinary mother to your children.” It is nice to know I am worthy of this award that was from his heart to mine.

--April Oliver, Phenix City


When my daughter Grace was diagnosed withType 1 diabetes at 13 months old in 2002, it was a life changing experience for our family. I had always known the blessing of being a mother, but almost losing your child puts things in a new perspective. The next Mother’s Day was extra special I received a very sweet card and gifts, but recognizing my blessings in life and just being a “Mama” was, and is, my sweetest gift from God.

--Vanessa Neal, Columbus


Mother’s Day at our house is an event! My three children , Madi, Tyler and Luke host a Mother’s Day tea honoring me , my mother, mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law. They decorate our house, bake yummy desserts and present everyone their gifts. We all have such a great time!

--Miranda Hardy, Columbus

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