From school drop-offs to messy high chair meals and worries that keep them up at night, no one feature or headline can define motherhood. So for this Mother’s Day, the Keys Weekly is proud to salute Middle Keys moms by letting them tell their own stories – from heart-melting moments to stomach-testing messes and the honest truth about the number one rules in their households.
Whether their faces appear here or not, here’s to all the moms in Marathon and beyond. You make us who we are today. Happy Mother’s Day.
GRETHELL PARRA
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? Being a parent is the hardest job, but seeing my two older ones as successful adults now is definitely an “I’ve got this moment.”
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have… but now enforce daily? I really don’t have many rules other than my kids have to be respectful to others, but I don’t like a messy house, so that’s my biggest rule.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? I have five kids and they all do so many things that melt my heart. I am very proud of their accomplishments and I feel very lucky to have such wonderful kids!
ERIN ARNETT
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Figuring it out without a manual, because back then, there was no Google. Somewhere between no sleep and being treated like a 24/7 help desk, I only had my instincts, stubbornness, and a very vocal “you’ve got to be kidding me.”
What’s your most-used phrase at home? “You’ll need something to tell your therapist when you’re older.” And, “One day you’ll thank me for this.” (I’m still waiting for that thank-you note.)
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have … but now enforce daily? “No attitude.” Which is hilarious, because they got it from me, and somehow refined it into an art form.
CHARMEL TAYLOR
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Me. The moment I became a mother I realized I was missing the part of me that made me feel whole. As a mother, I am complete.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I absolutely don’t have this?” I took my son to his first dentist appointment in Miami while potty training and forgot to pack a change of clothes. He got his first cleaning in just a t-shirt and pull-up.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have … but now enforce daily? I always swore I’d never force my child to eat veggies. I now realize how silly that thought was. He likes them, he just won’t try or eat them unless I threaten to take away a treat.
JESIKA DORESTANT
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That one day I’d have it all figured out. Honestly, you don’t — you just learn a little more every day, even while second-guessing yourself, and still show up anyway.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have… but now enforce daily? I said I’d never be the “because I said so” parent … and now I understand why it exists.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? She’ll sometimes grab my face, look right at me and say, “I love you, Mommy, you’re my girl,” then give me the biggest hug.
SHELBY CROSS
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Definitely waking up on command. Who needs an alarm when you have a baby?
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That having a kid so young would ruin my life when in reality it completed my life!
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? Recently my son started giving kisses and it is absolutely the cutest thing ever!
NICOLE NORED
What’s the best part of being a mom? This is a hard one – my kids are 30, 22 and 20. I do have four grandkids. Grandkids are better than your own kids. The best thing about being a grandma is getting all the love, hugs, and special moments while watching your family grow. Getting to spoil them and create memories they’ll never forget, while enjoying the fun side of parenting all over again — but with a little more patience and a lot less stress.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? It melts my heart when Kaston calls and says, “Ma, can we go to the aquarium?” Or when Ruby asks, “When are you coming to visit me? I miss you so much,” and “When can I come to your house and go to the beach?” Those little moments mean everything and are what make being a grandma so special.
KYM MOMALY
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Seeing others’ point of view.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? When the kids had a not-so-good day and we stopped at the Little Duck Key beach to play in the water, school clothes and all. And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? Trying to get three kids suited for games and playing hide-and-seek for the uniforms/gear when everyone said the stuff was in the car.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? When they wake up in the morning and give kisses and hugs half awake.
CHARLENE SPRINKLE BELILE
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? “I’ve got this” was realizing he’s growing into a good kid. “I don’t got this” is those moments when I question if I’m doing enough and if I’m going to screw it up!
What’s your most-used phrase at home? “It’s okay.” He wears his heart on his sleeve. He honestly gets it from me.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? When he gives me random hugs and signs “I love you” like his dad used to. That gets me every time.
HEATHER GEANEAS
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? The old saying “my kid will never do that.” Oh yeah they will, and maybe even to a bigger extreme. You just have to be one step ahead of them.
What’s your most-used phrase at home? Lately it’s been “stop picking your nose!”
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? I love when he sits in his room reading a book to his hot wheels or stuffed animals. Also when he’s tired and comes to snuggle in my lap. Or when he wants to be the big helper cooking dinner.
WENDY BONILLA
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? I learned to multitask. With three kids going in different directions, I found it easier to coach/run leagues so I could control schedules.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK … I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? When my first-born was about a year old, I thought to myself “He’s still alive – I must be doing something right!”
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have … but now enforce daily? I have to say checking in with me. I like to know when they go out, what’s going on when they are there, and when they are coming home. Not too much to ask!
JANINE MOTHNER
What’s one thing motherhood made me better at overnight? Prioritizing what was important and what I thought mattered.
What is the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? The idea that children should be seen and not heard. It turns out, I wanted to hear them all the time. And I did.
What is your most-used phrase at home. The most-used? It’s probably not appropriate for the newspaper. But a clean example would be, “Where’s the remote?”
NICOLE MALDONADO
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? People would say moms have a favorite – but that’s not correct. I truly love my kids equally. Madison or Matty, my 24-year-old daughter, and Omar III or Little O, my 30-year-old son – both are loves of my life!
What’s a moment you thought, “OK … I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? Teaching both kids to drive in LA – got it, did it. But then, letting each kid drive on their own in LA – nope, I had hubby follow them!
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? Both my kids say “I love you Mom” no matter who’s around and no matter what’s happening. I love that!
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have… but now enforce daily?
KELLY JUDD
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? Honestly, everyone telling me just wait for the terrible 2s, 3s and so on – oh, and just wait until they are teenagers. I’m still waiting! All stages have been a blessing.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? That would have to be homeschooling from beginning to end. Days that were good and I could, and other days of thinking no way, I can’t do this.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? Hugs and when I come home from work and the house is clean.
CAMI HOLDINGA
What’s your most-used phrase at home? Reef and Adrien know this phrase well: “Why not you?” Anything is possible if you believe in yourself and give max effort.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have… but now enforce daily? I always said, “I’ll never spy on my kids,” but now that they don’t live at home most of the year, Life 360 and I have become good friends.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? They are both grown and they still call me “Mama.”
TAYLOR KONRATH QUARLES
Our newest mom on the list was a bit too busy to answer our questions … as she was in labor when she received them! Congratulations to Taylor, dad Marshall and baby Jack Robert Quarles, born on April 30.
ERIKA GOODMAN
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? Not having time for myself – wait, that’s not a lie.
What’s your most-used phrase at home? Because I said so!
What’s something your child does that melts you every time?Just looking at my kiddos smile melts my heart.
JANNY OLIVA
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That good moms are patient all the time and never have to raise their voices or repeat themselves like a broken record.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? When she comes to my room for a goodnight kiss and sneaks in a five-minute cuddle before heading back to her room.
BETH RAMSAY-VICKREY
What’s the one thing motherhood made you better at? Juggling with only one arm/one hand (the other juggled baby).
What was your most-used phrase at home? No more dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, chinchillas, snakes, horses, birds, ducks or tortoises – no more pets! (And now she runs an animal shelter.)
JODY FREEMAN
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Motherhood opened my eyes to what true love is, in an instant. The ability to love your child or children and choose them before yourself, day in and day out, without ever pausing to question your choice. I saw this example in my own mother but didn’t truly grasp it until I became a mother myself.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have… but now enforce daily? I was always a firm believer in rules, this 1 doesn’t apply to me. I took over my mom’s title of “President of the Mean Moms Club.”
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? My children are grown, so when they choose to spend time with me, it’s really special. Watching how they treat others as young adults, reminds me I raised good humans.
AMANDA MATYI
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That the infant/toddler years are the hardest. Now that I have a preteen, I know that is NOT true.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK … I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? I don’t know if I ever think “OK, I’ve got this” – just that I am going to try and do my best every day for her. But the one thing I definitely do not have is math homework help.
KACEY MEARNS HUNT
What’s a moment you thought, “OK … I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? The transition from one to two kids was really hard in the beginning. I remember getting both kids packed up and successfully going to the park – I got this! And then suddenly the baby is crying, the toddler is hot and fussy, and they both want to be held. It quickly changes to – I don’t got this!
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That I needed to do it all to be a good mom. I’m incredibly fortunate for the village that we have, and all the help, love and support that comes with it.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have … but now enforce daily? You have to eat more than just chicken nuggets.
MANDY BRYK
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That your kids will listen to you and eat what you give them.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it? It’s been 12 years and I’m not sure if I have it yet!
What’s something your child does that melts you every time? When they clean up their stuff!
NICOLE CREMATA
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it?
Diaper related situations in public – “Code Brown!”
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have, but now enforce daily?
“Leave fishy clothes outside.”
What’s something your child does that melts you every time?
Every hug. Every kiss. Every “I love you.”
KAITE FOLLOS
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight?
Having more empathy, especially for other moms. Pregnancy and postpartum can be so hard and not talked about enough, and it’s made me trust my intuition a lot more too.
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it?
Do you ever actually feel that way as a parent? Every time you think you’ve got it, something humbles you. Definitely did not have it during a full-on code brown in the bathtub … enough said.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time?
Any time he asks for snuggles, hugs and kisses, and even more so when he says “love you.” There’s nothing sweeter than being your little human’s safe place.
TRACY McDONALD
(As answered by her daughter, Overseas Media Group’s Riley McDonald)
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight?
Remembering everything for everyone else, and being a good listener (listening to me).
What’s your most-used phrase at home?
“Riley, I love you.”
What’s a moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it?
She probably thought “I’ve got this” when I was born – she finally had a daughter. A moment when she did not have it … having two boys is terrible. They smell so bad, and they’re so much to deal with.
What’s something your child does that melts you every time?
I (Riley) walk in the room.
KATE KOLER
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight?
Patience with not only my child and myself but my husband, aka Jason Koler.
What’s a rule you swore you’d never have, but now enforce daily?
Rules? We have those?
What’s something your child does that melts you every time?
Josh: calling me mama and saying “I love you.”
Joe: telling me it’s going to be OK when Josh leaves, that he (Joe) will still be here for me, and then planning our future.
