Keys Weekly honors the magical women MAGICAL WOMEN WHO MAKE US WHO WE ARE…
From messy high-chair meals and school drop-off lines, to first dates, prom dresses and engagements, and everything that keeps 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 Florida 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 Key West and beyond. You make us who we are today because you make magic happen. Happy Mother’s Day.
YVETTE TALBOT
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at right away? Functioning without sleep!
What is the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That raising my children ended when they turned 18.
What ‘s one moment you thought ” OK I’ve got this,” and one when you absolutely did NOT have it? I’m still waiting! And one when I absolutely did not have it? Raising three daughters I always knew I did not have it together.
What’s something that still melts your heart every time your child does it no matter how old they get?Seeing my children grow into kind, successful adults and wonderful parents to my beautiful grandchildren melts my heart every single day.
RACHEL OROPEZA
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? Being able to thrive in the chaos and/or accomplish things though deprived of much- wanted and needed sleep! What is that, sleep, even 37 years later? My daughter, Victoria was my Mother’s Day gift all those years ago and this year it’s her day too, she will be 37 on Mother’s Day!
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? Not so much thinking you can do it all, but actually believing that you can do it all! Nay! Nay!
What’s your most-used phrase at home? Not sure I want that to be published!
What’s one rule you swore you’d never have … but now enforce daily? Having alone time, or me time. Reading, swimming, riding my bike, being on the ocean brings me back to myself and that’s when I’m ready and able to do for others!
What’s something your child does that still melts your heart every time? Watching my daughter with my grandsons, Sebastian and Rocky. Also, the little monsters running into my arms when I get to visit them in Atlanta. But of course, they just want to see what “Avo” brought them this time, usually cars or Legos!
TAMMY BERARD
What lie did you believe about motherhood — until you became a mom & faced reality? That moms have it all figured out. At least I always thought my Mom did. When my first child, Taylor, was born I couldn’t believe they were letting us leave the hospital with her. I had no idea what I was doing. And I cried when my Mom left me to go back home. I called my own mother often to apologize and ask her if she actually loved me as much as I loved Taylor.
I always thought I would be a good boy mom. I only had sisters. When my second child, Trevor, was born he was constantly testing the limits of danger. We were regulars at the ER. My two boys have added to my emotional toughness and definitely my wine-drinking habit. But I absolutely love being my three kids’ mom. They are my reason for keeping on keeping on.
KATE MIANO
What’s your most-used phrase at home? When the kids were little I gave them a curse word that they could use freely to avoid them using really bad ones: “BULLASHITA.”
That’s Italian!
KELLY NORMAN
What’s one thing that motherhood made you do better? Be less selfish, for sure
What myth (or lie) did you believe about motherhood — until you became a mom & faced reality? That love shows up at birth immediately. While that is somewhat true, it certainly grows immensely overtime getting to know your child and working your way through motherhood
What’s your most-used phrase at home? “Find a home for it” and it’s also one my daughter can’t stand me saying.
What’s one rule you swore you’d never have for your kids … but ended up enforcing daily? I let dad enforce the rules 
I’m the fun one,
What’s something your child does that still melts your heart, no matter how old they get? She still wants to snuggle with mom, and I’ll take it as long as I can!
AMBER ERNST-LEONARD
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? I quickly learned that I could carry more than I thought possible, figuratively and quite literally. I could traverse stairs balancing a diaper bag, purse, laptop, lunch bag, coffee, and a baby on my hip.
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That it’s possible to “have it all.” The truth is that moms can have a full life, but not without trade-offs, compromises, and help (shout out to grandmas!).
What’s something your child does that melts your heart every time? My heart melts whenever my kids cuddle and hug each other. Seeing their bond is one of my greatest joys.
TAMMY FOX
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That you have to be happy all the time. It is OK to be tired or overwhelmed; being mentally well matters more than being perfect. Our kids learn more from seeing us be human, making mistakes and apologizing than from any façade.
What’s something your child does that melts your heart every time? My son tells me he loves me every single day, multiple times a day. However, what gets me most is that he always says it when we say goodbye, on the phone, before school or work, or when he heads out. And the random hugs for no reason? Those are the best part.
MICHELLE MONGELLI
What’s the one moment you thought, OK I’ve got this? And one where you absolutely did not have it? I don’t think I’ve ever thought I had it all together and that’s OK. But when the grandchildren started trickling in (we now have five), it became much easier not to sweat the small stuff, and to just appreciate the little things because that’s the sweet spot.
What’s the one thing that motherhood made you better at? Cooking, because these kids thought they were culinary judges growing up.
KERRY BAKER
What’s one thing motherhood made you do better?
Motherhood has taught me patience, understanding and a deep well of empathy. It is a role filled with challenges and self-doubt; often as mothers we quietly question whether we are doing enough or doing it well.
What’s one moment you thought, “OK … I’ve got this”? And/or one where you absolutely did not have it?
A moment that when I thought I had it covered, had to be when I dropped Kailey, my only child, off at UCF and left her. I made it all the way to the 18-Mile Stretch a few days later and then had my emotional breakdown. I had just left my baby in a huge city. That is probably the hardest thing as a mom, letting go, and allowing them to grow up. It is a sense of sadness you really are unable to put into words. We were always super close, and I was so proud of her, but it was time to let her spread her wings and fly!
What’s something your child does that still melts your heart every time, no matter how old they get?
My daughter’s genuine kindness. Even at the age of 28, she is still a big kid at heart. The simplest things make her happy. I would like to think she got that kindness from me, and her Nanny as I try to live life by always being kind to others.
Being a mom is truly the most rewarding thing in life, and I am so grateful I was blessed with an amazing daughter who makes me so proud.
KRISTEN LIVENGOOD
What’s one thing motherhood made you better at overnight? I can detect immediately if they really want to talk to me or if they just want me to buy them a $35 pair of underwear-like shorts or check them out of school early.
What’s the biggest lie you believed about being a mom? That it gets easier as they get older. Now they are just more emotional and more expensive, but I also know why my mom called me every time she got a ping from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office app, even when I was away at college.
What’s one moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And one where you absolutely did not have it? I’ve got this: When we realize we raised really, really amazing human beings and someone compliments their kindness or empathy. Did NOT have this: homework, especially the math kind…
What’s your most-used phrase at home? Mine: “Share your location.” Daughter Marina’s: “Don’t post that/Delete that picture now.”
What’s something your child does that melts your heart every time? Calls with real-life dilemmas, like “Oh my gosh, my fish just had six LIVE babies and I thought he was a boy. How am I going to feed all these mouths!?!” (Now Jacques is Jacquisa.)
EMILY BENDER CAUDELL
What’s one thing motherhood made you do better? It gave me more patience, which I’ve historically had in short supply. It made me realize not everything is urgent, even though I work in PR where almost everything is treated like it is.
What’s one moment you thought, “OK… I’ve got this”? And/or one when you absolutely did NOT? Any time I get off a work call about something big and exciting like a film premiere or a concert opening and immediately switch into toddler pick-up mode, I feel pretty awesome. I’m really just constantly switching between managing clients and managing a small child, which sometimes feels oddly similar. Working moms across the board are incredible.
What’s your most-used phrase at home? “I love you,” or “Look at those cheeks.”
