"Conor Pribis, a student at Mars Elementary School, joined his classmates in making Mother's Day gifts at the end of April."

As Mother's Day approaches, a saying comes to mind: “God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.”

Maybe there weren't many places for families to go this past year, between quarantines and event cancellations.

But that doesn't mean mothers were any less active. In fact, many kids are watching moms take on new roles in the pandemic.

And they want to show them they're appreciated.

“When my mom puts me to bed at night, I make sure to give her extra hugs just so she knows how much I love her,” said Nora Wildrick, a second grader in Megan Anderson's class at Haine Elementary School.

Nora loves when her mother, Erin, surprises her. Once one of those surprises was a puppy. Nora said that turned out to be the best day “of my whole entire life.”

To thank Erin for all she's done — and all she will do — Nora completed a writing and portrait project for Mother's Day in Anderson's class.

“She says that homemade presents are the best kind,” Nora said.

Anderson said she likes to celebrate the parents of her students each year with a special Mother's Day project.

She hopes seeing students work “extra hard” to get the details of their gifts right will establish lasting memories.“I hope this writing and art project bookmarks exactly how they felt at 8 years old,” Anderson said. “It's easy to see the enormous amount of love they have for their mothers.”Emma Crede is also in Anderson's class.One of the things she loves about her mom, Amy, is how supportive she is.“My mom tells me she loves me every day,” Emma said. “She never forgets.”She wants to wait until Mother's Day to give her mom the picture she drew of them together. Emma's planning to get up “super early” to make breakfast and spend the day with her mom.Students in Brandy Downing's life skills class at Slippery Rock Area Middle School planted marigolds in time for Mother's Day. They wanted to have something to give their moms, according to Downing.“I chose this project for the students because they described 'Mom' as, 'Her love is always growing,'” Downing said.The project fits well in the life skills class, according to Downing.It's something students can manage on their own and provides them an opportunity to remember daily things like watering.It also provides students with hands-on experience for things such as helping out around the house. It also shows them how with a little effort, great things can be cultivated.“Every day we start the morning off with watering the plants and telling something Mom helped them (with) the night before,” Downing said.

Slippery Rock sixth grader Aiden Crawford said chores are how he shows his mom, Victoria, he appreciates her.After all, moms do a lot of chores during the year.“Your mom does stuff for you,” Aiden said. “Unless you make her mad.”Seventh grader Kylee Hilliard said she likes to give her mom, Savalla, hugs.“(Moms) make dinners, wake you up for school,” Kylee said. “(She) takes care of you when you are sick.”Mars Area student Gianna Carlino is a student in Kelli Schiffhauer's second-grade class.She has a special gift in mind for her mother, Gemma.“I'm making my mom free coupons, because she deserves them,” Gianna said.Downing said she wants to make planting flowers an annual project.It's important to celebrate mother figures on the day specifically dedicated to them. But the giving doesn't need to end with drawings, notes or plants.

Jacob Schirato, another student in Schiffhauer's class, said he shows his mom, Natalie, appreciation every day.“I give my mom hugs and kisses,” Jacob said. “I ask her how her day was when I get off of the bus.”Emma said she likes to show her mom how much she loves her throughout the year by doing fun things, such as scavenger hunts.“The last clue always says, 'I love you,'” Emma said.Of course, it doesn't hurt to make Mother's Day stand out a little more than other days.Doing chores, cooking dinner, hanging out: Nora said these are things she plans to do May 9.And who knows? Maybe the gifts shared this year will be part of traditions that last forever.“Happy Mother's Day!” Anderson said.

"Nora Wildrick, a student at Haine Elementary School, drew a portrait of her and her mom, Erin, for Mother's Day."

"Kylee Hilliard, a student in a life skills class in Slippery Area School District, planted marigolds for her mom, Savalla, during a class project."