A mother's love Students, teachers work together to celebrate moms
The English journalist Rudyard Kipling once noted, “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”
It might not be a traditional holiday, but there are Mother's Day traditions: You buy Mom flowers, you take her out for brunch, and you spend the day letting her relax.
This year, kids are more likely to find flowers than buy them and cook brunch instead of eating out. The pandemic has changed things.
But there's one thing it hasn't changed: the meaning of a mother.
“She works hard,” said Meredith Rice, a third grader in the South Butler County School District, of her mom, Rachel. “She takes good care of us, and I love her.”
Celebrating superstars
Rachel Rice, who is a teacher at South Butler Primary School, and Meredith are both working at home while the pandemic runs its course.
Rachel said the Rices usually mark Mother's Day with a big family cookout. Though they're still having one this year, only immediate family will attend.
“My favorite kind of gifts from my kids are the ones they make,” Rachel said. “I have a special box that I keep all of the Mother's Day projects they have made me over the years in.”
During the year, Rachel goes through the box. She said its contents always makes her smile.
“Mother's Day is a great opportunity to focus on the female superstars in our lives,” said Natalie Ranalli, a first-grade teacher at Evans City Elementary School. “I know that students witness daily the amazing things that the women in their lives are capable (of doing).”
Mother's Day isn't just for mothers, Ranalli believes. It's a time to celebrate the female role models in every student's life, from sisters to grandmothers to any woman who fills the role of caregiver. When Ranalli conducted an online lesson on writing Mother's Day poems this week, she made sure to explain that.“I strongly believe that it needed to be a focus for our lesson,” Ranalli said.This year, Ranalli had to be creative when it came to weaving academics with gift making. Because most Mother's Days occur while students are physically in school, Ranalli's students usually participate in more elaborate projects like potting flowers.This year, Ranalli guided her students through writing a Mother's Day poem. The project serves its purpose, according to Ranalli: It helps kids commemorate the work mothers do.“They have seen their moms working in and out of homes,” Ranalli said. “Cooking, cleaning, playing, loving, and dancing though all of this.”Bizzz-y livesSome children are repaying the fruits of those labors with the fruits of their own. Students in Butler Catholic's Garden Club made gifts of the flowers and bee products they cultivated over the year.“We called it the 'Bee Happy' gift,” said Kathy Dudley, an adviser for the Garden Club. “I think people responded to the fact that it was ready to go.”Each Bee Happy bag included a bee balm plant, a jar of honey and a stick of bees wax lip balm. The products all come from the club's garden and honeybee colony.Dudley said what's special about the bee bags is that students can explain their products.“It's special because my daughter particularly loves the Garden Club,” Christine Swift said. “It's a family thing.”Swift's daughter, Alexandra, helped plant Butler Catholic's pollinator garden last year. The Swifts were also among the families that took care of it during the summer.
Dudley said students usually sell honey at the parish picnic in July. But with so many stores and schools closed, the group decided instead to sell gift bags for Mother's Day.The group sold out in less than two weeks, with customers buying over 60 bags at $20 a bag. The funds go back to the Garden Club.“We definitely want the kids to feel that they're still involved in school,” Dudley said. “It was just — for us — partly a reminder to keep connected with them.”Gift of givingRachel said making Mother's Day gifts with students in her third-grade class is one of her favorite assignments. Past activities include portraits, scrapbooks, plants and paintings.“Things look much different this year,” Rachel said.Students used virtual instruction to make cards at home. But Rachel also suggested other ways kids could make this year's celebration special.“Some of them are going to make their moms coupon books, breakfast in bed, not fight with siblings all day, do extra chores, and just simply show their moms some extra love on Mother's Day,” Rachel said.Rachel said Meredith was so excited about making a Mother's Day card, she gave it to her early.“It was extra special because she was able to follow the steps in the tutorial to make it all on her own,” Rachel said.Meredith said doing it herself was her favorite part of the project. Virtual instruction gave her creative license while letting her do something she liked.“It was super fun watching the video,” Meredith said. “I love making crafts.”Things made by hand carry important meaning for many mothers.“It's more special than anything you could absolutely get from the store,” Swift said.ConnectionsFor Rachel, the best gifts her kids can give her are hugs and acts of kindness toward others. It's important for children to learn the value of giving. Meredith will be doing just that when she takes the time to show her 5-year-old brother how to make a Mother's Day card.“She loves to play teacher,” Rachel said. “And teach him to do crafts, too.”Swift said Butler Catholic's pollinator garden has brought more than just classmates together. It's allowed Alexandra to work closely with her grandmother, Mary Sibenac, an adult volunteer for the club.“That's been special,” Swift said.Ranalli said the pandemic has given many students a new perspective of the work their mothers do. Between learning from home and having to stay indoors, kids are seeing first-hand what it takes to hold a job, manage education and keep a family active.And Ranalli knows all parents — not just mothers — should be particularly celebrated for their dedication and sacrifices this year.“Don't worry, dads,” Ranalli said. “Your day is coming!”
