THANK YOU for the overwhelming response to our Mother's Day "Queen For A Day" promotion. The following are excerpts from some of the tributes paid by readers to their mothers.
"With the burdens of a two-year-old child, no moral or financial support and having to juggle two jobs to support your child and yourself, would you take on the troubles of someone else's unloved child?
Well my mother did! Or adopted mother that is. She listened to all my troubles and helped solve my problems. She taught me to smile through my tears and her shoulder is the rock I lean on. For the 12 years I've known her, I no longer think of killing myself. She took me into the most important place - her heart."
- From Patricia Prince about her mother, Grace Stephens.
"The lady, fusses over her children and her husband. A special piece of chicken, clothes prepared in a specific way are a must and if you deviated from her standards all hell would break loose.
She is a very skilful seamstress, who possess the techniques to alter the hand-me-down dresses and uniforms of my sisters and she knows how to neatly patch a torn in a garment so it is not seen. She excels over everyone in the art of turning over a collar of a blouse or a shirt so that they look brand new."
- Angella Robinson about her mother, Mable Robinson
"I am happy that I know my school work because of encouragement and assistance from my mother. She always points out that teachers cannot do everything, parents should help their children also.
My mother tries very hard with us as a single mother and always hopes and prays for us at nights. She wants us to become good citizens in the society, so she teaches me proper manners, when we are on the bus and when she sees an elderly person or a pregnant person she always encourages me to do the polite thing and offer my seat to them she encourages me to pray before I eat my meals."
- From nine-year-old Kadeem Grason about his mother
Verlyn Baines
"She encourages me when I feel like giving up, she doctors me when I am ill, she believes in me when I doubt my ability, she corrects me when I go wrong and shares joy with me when I triumph.
She taught me how to love and respect others and myself. Oh, she taught me so much. And though sometimes her methods of teaching I didn't really understand, they always work, because I learnt. And then, there is the way she scolded us - with love. She always gives us warnings before she finally spanked us."
- From Shirlene Thompson about her mother Nurline Thompson
"She has weathered a fouled marriage and continues to overcome grave financial pressures, but always with a smile and a positive outlook. She has fought hard to keep the roof over our heads and her home is a haven to us."
- From Georgia Littlejohn about her mother Ethel Wray
"My mother is a very strong individual and she has moulded us into responsible, motivated and independent young adults. I have always learnt from her example to search within myself for the power to overcome odds -- to always think that I am deserving of the best and if I do falter to get up and try again, because when one door has closed, another will be opened. She also constantly reminds us that sometimes we have to force the door open, and as she always states "With God's help, nothing is impossible".
- From Heather Muirhead about her mother Phylene Wilson
"There are some people who are always a pleasure to be around because they have a quality that brings out the best in others and that person is my mother Lilian Dixon. Assertive, conservative, energetic, passionate, intelligent, thoughtful, versatile and courageous are just a few words used to describe her. She is the person who made me who I am today and I'm thankful."
- From Trudean Dixon about her motheR, Lillian Dixon.
"I can't quite quantify the financial sacrifice my mother has made for me throughout the years. She denied herself many things to provide our own home, food and a solid education for me. She made my clothes, and at times (during my teenage years) I was the princess of the ball because of her unique designs signatured with love."
- From Antonette Scarlett about her mother, Winsome Oakley
Gifts and pampering will be provided by Lascelles Wines and Spirits, Jencare Skin Farm, D'Choix Boutique, Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Evergrow Garden Centre and The Ritz Carlton Hotel. Watch next week's Flair for the winners.
