My Mom Deserves the Best Because …
Submissions from the Atlanta Jewish community about what makes their mothers so special.
In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked our readers to submit a short explanation of why their mother deserves the best. Each submission was entered into a raffle and three lucky moms are our winners and will receive a special gift.
Beyond the prizes, we share several of the submissions we received recounting the sacrifices of mothers, putting their children’s needs first; being an exemplary role model or nurturer; caring for others; or just brightening someone’s world.
Bernice Cohen
Atlanta, Ga.
She takes care of cancer patients at Piedmont Hospital by day; takes care of our kids by night and brings fun and joy into everyone’s life all the time.
–David Cohen
Sara Eastin
Roswell, Ga.
I know everyone says this, but I really do believe my mom is the best mom in the world. She is one of those few people who truly enjoys caring for others and making them happy and is always putting others before herself. She has been the rock in our family, holding us together through the ebbs and flows of this thing called life. She has given up opportunities in her own life for the sake of others, such as quitting her job to help care for my Nana, her mother-in-law, when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. And she does these types of selfless acts without ever hesitating, complaining or feeling sorry for herself. The funny thing is that she was not exactly set on becoming a mother but changed her mind when she met my dad. And for as long as I can remember, even in elementary school, friends have always told me I have the best mom, because even as children they recognized how selfless and loving she is.
-Katie Eastin
Lora Fruchtman
Dunwoody, Ga.
My mother deserves everything in the world! My whole life she has always had my back and been my No. 1 supporter. In high school she sold the house we grew up in and moved to an apartment so I could go to a performing arts program. I was NOT the easiest child and she has never left my side. In the past year alone, she lost her mother. She bent over backwards for everything I wanted and needed for my wedding. She also let my husband and I and our dog live with her while we bought and renovated a house. Now my sister, her husband, three kids, and two dogs live there while they await their renovation to be done. She is always bending over backwards to give her kids whatever they need even though she is suffering with the loss of her mother. She is a gem among gems and deserves more than I could EVER give her!
-Jana Kogon
Risa Jennison
Atlanta, Ga.
My mom deserves a day at the spa because she works so hard every day. She is a single mother and works multiple jobs. She did her best to give my sister and me everything we needed and wanted growing up. She has a very strong work ethic that she has given to my sister and me. We appreciate everything she does and love her so much!
-Lilli Jennison
Shirley Kayne
Asheville, N.C.
My mom is the matriarch of our family, her children’s families. But what I never considered was how she may have become the matriarch of her siblings and their families when it comes to Jewish gatherings such as our recent online Passover seder.
Not since my Grandpa Simon led seders for our extended family in Rego Park, N.Y., have I seen so many of us gathered together in one place – Zoom – to share the Passover story. My two aunts from the North were there online with us and three of my first cousins along with a second generation of cousins. We would never have been able to join in this way if not for technology because of the vast distance that divides us, from San Diego to Manhattan.
While my mom has always led our family seders, this was her first time leading one for our extended family, as far as I know. So while she’s not the oldest among her siblings – she’s the second youngest, in fact – she assumed my grandfather’s role as the Jewish prayer leader at least this year. In all fairness, my Uncle Murray is definitely the patriarch of the family as the oldest child but didn’t have the technology to join us or help lead the seder.
Maybe I didn’t appreciate my mom growing up. Maybe she didn’t dress, clean or cook the way I would have wanted compared to my friends’ mothers. Funny, cause my children may have similar opinions about my ways and methods. While that may be the case, I can also say that it’s because of my mother that I have a fighting chance of being the matriarch of my family. My brother would definitely get the patriarchal role even though he’s the youngest among us. I’ll give him that. But the matriarchal role goes to me. Many years ago, I listened to the seder from a cassette tape of my grandfather leading the evening with my then-Israeli cousin Ami. His ex-wife, my first cousin, attended our recent Zoom seder.
I’ve used notes from that cassette tape to lead my own seder, maybe once or twice. But nowhere to the level of Yiddishkeit with which my mom leads our’s. So thank you mom for being my role model for all things Jewish. Maybe my kids will appreciate me some day too.”
-Roni Robbins
Wendy Klein
Alpharetta
My mom is the most hard-working, amazing, selfless woman I’ve ever met, and above all just incredible. She manages to get up every morning and work her butt off while still having a smile on her face. I owe everything to my mother. She’s there for me 24/7 and I don’t know where I would be without her. My mom is my role model. I am so fortunate to have her in my life as my mom and my best friend. I look up to her every day and I only hope that one day, I can be the woman she is today. I love her with all of my heart, and she deserves to be celebrated every day. It would mean everything to me for her to win any of these! If anyone deserves them for Mother’s Day, it’s her! Thank you for giving out this opportunity as well!!
-Amanda Klein
Doris Goodman
Woodstock, Ga.
My mom is 91 years old and has survived being uprooted from New York to Georgia, the death of my father after 60 years of marriage, another move to Merrill Gardens Senior Living in Woodstock, and now complete and total isolation during this COVID-19 epidemic. She was very sick at the beginning of the pandemic and made two trips to the ER, one via ambulance, a cardiologist visit and a telemedicine neurosurgeon visit. Through it all she has persevered and looks to the future where she can once again socialize with her friends and hug her family. We are all going through a lot, but to do it with grace and optimism at 91 is worthy of recognition.
-Nancy Miller
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