Thanking the mothers in my life

Another Mother’s Day has come and gone.

 

I would like to thank the mothers in my life for everything they do.

 

Starting with my mother.

 

Thank you for raising me. Teaching me quality newspaper lessons. 

 

My mother doesn’t get enough credit for the opportunities which came to me because she and my father operated the newspaper, or the many lessons she taught me as I worked there. She hired me when I was 15 years old. When my dad fired me on my first day of work, she told me not to worry and ensured I still had a job. 

 

Although my mother doubted I would show up to work that first day, I did. From that point forward, she supported me every step of the way. 

 

She believed in me enough to ask me to help start her newspaper, The Janesville Journal, in 2019.

 

As I worked for her, each time I felt like I had mastered whatever responsibility I had been given, I would ask her for more. Then she would teach me something new. It’s how I learned the accounting, sales, and more importantly the customer relations side of running a newspaper. Mom was patient with me. I never felt stupid for asking a question she had already given me the answer to three times before. 

 

Thank you, Mom, for everything. (I left out all of the childhood thanks like going to the fair and stopping at Mcdonald’s or all the great home cooking. More topics for next year.) 

 

To Editor Deb.

 

Deb has been here every step of the way in my life since we started working together. I am proud to call her my friend, Editor, and mentor. I have leaned on her for every important decision made at the newspaper. Thank you for being my friend. 

 

To my Aunt Teresa.

 

I have no doubt you would defend me to your last breath, even though I sometimes make you angry. I try not to. Theresa has been a person I could talk or vent to at any hour of the night. Many lunches have been shared together, game nights and holidays. Thank you for your support.

 

To my Grandma Kathy. The countless memories from my youth are irreplaceable. Thank you, and Grandpa, for giving me those memories. I cherish them. 

 

To all of the moms out there. I hope you spent your Mother’s Day doing whatever you wanted to do. And I thank you for your patience. 

 

 "A child's first teacher is its mother."

—Peng Liyuan