Graduation Gifts + Mothers Day

This Mother and Daughter Have Alot to Celebrate!

Mother's Day is around the corner and the kids are graduating this month! Today we feature, Elena and Amy (with a little assist by her sister, Catherine).

Elena is a mother of five and her youngest daughter is graduating from 8th grade to high school next week.

Elena and Amy

Mother of Five, Elena and her youngest daughter and 8th Grade Grad, Amy

I asked Amy and her sister, Catherine to share a little bit about their Mom.

Amy:
The best thing about my mom is that she is always there for me when I need her.

I would like to thank my mom for all the sacrifices she makes for me because I know I’m a lot to handle.

Catherine:
The best thing about my mom is that she always encourages me. I don't have kids, but I hear it's pretty hard to watch them leave the nest and have them be far away from you. Going to college 6 hours away from home, I can only imagine how hard it is for my mom, but she has never once discouraged me from following my heart. I know a lot of people who did or didn't go to certain schools because their parents wouldn't allow them to be too far from home. I am so lucky that my mom always supports me in whatever decisions I make, and wherever they take me. She also nurtures my passion for travel; encouraging me to take travel opportunities whenever they arise.

My mom sends me a positive message every morning, and I just want to thank her for that. I don't always say thank you (I'm in college and life gets hectic), but it really makes my day getting a sweet message every morning.

Do you have a piece of jewelry you treasure?

Amy:
I have a necklace that my mom gave me. The necklace is important to me because my mom gave it to me for my first communion and it’s a locket with a picture of mom. I wear it to have my mom always close to my heart.

Catherine:
I have a ring that I wear everyday, and my mom actually has a matching one. A few years ago, we were on a trip to Italy and on one of the last days we went to the Vatican. There's a gift shop there and anything you buy you can get blessed by the Pope. Every pope designs a line of jewelry and other items to be sold at this store; one of Pope Francis's line is a beautiful rosary ring. It's a ring with 10 notches so you can pray the 10 Hail Mary's from the rosary, and it also has a Tau, which is a favorite symbol of Pope Francis. It also has the word "Humilis" inscribed on the inside, which is Latin for "humble" or "humility." It's my favorite piece of jewelry partly because it's something that my mom and I share, and I think of her every time I see it. It also is one of my favorite reminders of faithfulness holding on to faith and humility no matter what life throws at me.

Best Selling Graduation Gifts

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I asked Elena about what it's like to see her little girl graduate on to high school:

Elena:
When I was growing up, everyone I knew graduated from 8th grade.  It was a rite of passage.  It was a pretty big deal.  It typically involved a mass, certificates of completion were granted and awards were handed out.  Most followed it with a lunch or dinner with family and friends.  All the 8th graders dressed up in their best dresses for the girls and coat and tie for the boys.  The ‘graduate’ was showered with gifts and money to commemorate the occasion.  In short, it was a big deal for the ‘graduating’ 8th graders before they embarked on their high school career.
 
My youngest child, Amy, is about to ‘graduate’ from 8th grade.  While our school doesn’t do the elaborate ‘graduations’ that I grew up with, I find myself filled with many emotions as I think about her starting high school.  After raising 5 children, I can see the light at the end of the child rearing tunnel.  This is definitely a good thing, but it’s also bittersweet for me when I think about closing this chapter of my life.  
 
When I think about Amy, so often I think about what a sweet and happy little girl she has always been.  For Amy, every day has always been ‘the best day ever!’  When she was a very little girl,  she had some speech/language and developmental delays, but she was still the happiest little girl I’d ever seen. She was always smiling her big beautiful smile.  She is still always smiling (save for a few teenagery moments!).  In addition to those delays, Amy was diagnosed with a neurological disorder that affects her muscle control.

Even with an unusual gait, she was always smiling.  Fortunately, she takes medication that keeps symptoms at bay most of the time and she is able to function normally.  With the amazing work of our school system, her teachers and therapists, Amy overcame her delays and is now on the other end of the spectrum shining on stage in dance, theatre and singing.

I have often treated her younger than she is because that’s how I thought of her, as the ‘baby.’   However, it’s time for me to admit that she’s not a ‘baby’ anymore or even a little girl.  She’s a full fledged teenager ready to tackle high school and all that it entails.  
 
As the school year draws to a close, I want to celebrate Amy and all that she has overcome. I pray that she makes a smooth transition to high school and that every day continues to be ‘the best day ever!’

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