Happy Mother's Day!

When I was a little kid, a few of my friends – each of whom had lessons in voice and dance – started talking about pageants.

Yes, as in beauty pageants. It sounded cool and I decided that it was for me, so I insisted that my parents sign me up immediately.

My mom, who used to keep a little book about our important moments, recorded the day with the inscription:

Kelly came home from school today and wants to be in a pageant. I have no idea what she will do as she has no talent.

I didn’t know about that moment – and her reservations – until I was much older. Why? Because my mom never let on that she thought I would have a difficult go of it. She made my party dress (Kelly green, since I was so egotistical I was sure the color was named after me), she made my costume (Mary Poppins) and she helped me choreograph and practice a routine to Superfragilisticexpialidocious.

That’s what’s so cool about my mom. She has always supported my crazy ideas even when she didn’t understand them. And she has made me believe in myself even when the odds were stacked against me. It has meant a lot to me as I’ve navigated all kinds of new and different things: being the first in my family to graduate college; moving up north to go to law school (and eventually stay here); and opening my own firm.

I am so proud and grateful of my mom every day but I am especially reminded of it today. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!
(Oh, and the pageant? I came in second runner-up. The judges apparently enjoyed a little bit of Mary Poppins with a lisp and attitude!)