It’s Mother’s Day!
We can all agree that this Mother’s Day is a little different, right?
by Vanessa Garcia
For many of us, there’s something so magical and comforting about moms, especially during these uncertain times where it may be hard to find any glimpse of positivity.
Just this week, during Chef Julie’s ChefsFeed online cooking class, Julie (while loading a sheet tray of veggies into her oven) asked her lovely assistant and camerawoman, “Is my mom watching yet?” Julie chuckled and followed by telling us, the audience watching her live stream class, that her mom usually reminds her to check the oven whenever she has something in it. Then she said something that stuck with all of us watching, “No matter how old we are, we still need our mom.”
In an effort to lift some spirits, we reached out to some of our favorite Moms of The Yard to see what this Mother’s Day is going to be like compared to years in the past.
Happy Mother’s Day, Trina!
Trina is our Director of Marketing and Communications. She basically directs, manages, and organizes every. single. piece. of media, marketing and communications material you have seen from The Doral Yard! She’s a ROCKSTAR!
Q: What is something you would like to do this Mother’s Day? How is this different from other years?
A: I would really like to spend time (safely) with my family somewhere outdoors that is not my backyard–like a park or trail where we can be somewhere new but away from others. I’d probably be having brunch somewhere with my extended family if this was another year, so that is quite different.
Q: What is something you would like to
receive this Mother’s Day?
Oh, I have been very specific about what I want this year for Mother’s Day. I want margaritas. I haven’t been drinking too much during the quarantine, but I’ve been craving some good margaritas, and we found a liquor store that does ‘trunk drops’ when you roll up to the curb after you order online.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Mom?
A: I love my kid–that is the best part. What a joy and a gift to have her in my life. Without her, nothing would be quite as fun. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard and tiring too, but just her mere existence in my life now is something I can’t ever imagine being without.
For example, having a kid can be stressful and tiring, so certain things become exciting after you have a kid because your control over your schedule changes so much. For example, I can’t go to the movies or out to restaurants as often with a young child, for various reasons, so when I do go on a date night or an adult trip to the movies or we all go out to eat as a family, it’s like a THING. It’s so exciting. So I savor things more. And of course, now that those things aren’t possible at all, I will savor them even more.
She makes me keep a mental balance. I love my work and I’m passionate about it, but there’s another human depending upon me to stop work at a certain time each day and to give her my presence and attention, so it helps me to be more present in a dynamic way in my life that I don’t know if I was before.
She also draws attention to all my mom did for us–being a parent makes you realize all the time, patience, and sacrifice your own parents showered on you.
Happy Mother’s Day, Susan!
Susan is our long-time friend and fermentation QUEEN, when she isn’t teaching yoga, consulting (she’s a holistic nutrition and health consultant), or brewing ‘bucha, you can usually catch her enjoying her time off with her two daughters!
A: I want to be in nature and create quiet with my family, hoping to get out on the water. This year is different because I can’t be with my own Mom so I want to create a new ritual.
Q: What is something you would like to receive this Mother’s Day? (Does not have to be tangible.)
A: I want to receive space to just be. We are always rushing and running. This year, we won’t go to both our Moms and split the day between the Grandmas like we usually do on holidays. Instead, we will be still. While I would, of course, rather be with our Moms, there is also a gift to find a new sweetness here!
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Mom?
A: The bond we share. I always joke with my girls and say “I grew you!” But I mean it… that is so special. They know what my heart sounds like from the inside. There are no words to describe it.
Q: What are three words you would use to describe YOUR mom and why?
A: THE F****** BEST! Hahahaha… sorry to swear but it’s the only way to possibly describe her! She so far surpasses everything anyone could dream of in a Mom. I’m so blessed.
Happy Mother’s Day, Pamela!
Our close friend and plant-based, gluten-free bakery owner (Pamela Wasabi Bakery) is also a mom, innovator, AND author (she’s working on her THIRD book!). Oh and she’s doing an IG live with @dellabowls on Wednesday (5/13/2020) at 1:00PM.
A: This year is no different. Spending the day with my daughter is what lights me up. I’m honored she chose me as her mom.
Q: What is something you would like to receive this Mother’s Day? (Does not have to be tangible.)
A: I want to take my daughter camping in the summer. Maybe this is a promise I can make to celebrate our bond.
Happy Mother’s Day, Julie!
Julie is our Director of Community and Culinary Programming. She’s also a mom of two (well… four, if you include the dog and bearded dragon). She’s also a chef, blogger, our Sustainability Goddess, and about seven billion other things! (Thank you, Julie!)
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Mom?
A: Kids are the greatest teachers and can help you become your best version of yourself. There are a lot of ups and downs along the way… and soooo many challenges. They test your patience and your limits and make you examine everything from a different perspective. You have to become completely selfless and put others’ needs always before your own. When you are a mom, the capacity of your heart expands to extreme depths, and you can love another person so much more than you ever could have imagined. You can love multiple beings more than anything else in the world.
My favorite thing about being a mom is when I look at my kids and in a flash realize what amazing human beings they each are, and how proud of them I am. They are both so dynamic, spunky, creative, and interesting, and they are both such good people. I love to see them grow into their own unique selves.
I also really love that they love hugs and cuddles and always tell me that they love me. Especially John. He may push my patience to my limits every day, but he also tells me so sweetly several times a day how much he loves me, so it balances it out!
Q: How has social distancing changed your “role” as a mom? (Homeschooling, meal prepping/planning, etc.)
A: We are together ALL. THE. TIME. It’s too much. I am not a helicopter parent. I like to just let my kids run freely outside, play with friends, be independent about school. Now I have to helicopter everything they do. I don’t like helicoptering at all.
Right now… I am their mom, their teachers, their coach, their playmate, their friend, their principal, their housekeeper, their tutor…. their everything. Every. Day.
This situation is extreme and pushes everyone to our limits in every way.
But, at the same time, it has brought us closer together in unexpected ways, and taught us how to be together more, without needing much from the outside world. I imagine that it will be weird and hard in some ways to go back to the old normal (if that ever happens?)
We asked Julie if she could share a piece of her children’s art with us. Thank you, Julie.
Happy Mother’s Day, Fernanda!
Fernanda is a close Yard-Family friend, the founder of Cook And Move (which some of you may be familiar with), a Nutritionist, celebrity coach, creator of 7-Day Body Reboot, a healthy cook AND a mom of three!
Q: What is something you would like to do this Mother’s Day? How is this different from other years?
I just would like to relax and not have to clean but look at the house clean hahaha.
Usually, we will go and spend a day vacation locally somewhere or go to brunch somewhere at a nice hotel. This year we are just staying at home. No plans.
Q: What is something you would like to receive this Mother’s Day? (Does not have to be tangible.)
To tell you the truth, nothing. I believe I already have all I need at this time. I’m full of love, health, and happiness.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being a Mom?
This is a hard question. I love everything about being a mom. I love watching them grow, guiding them. They bring out the best in me, I love how they teach me how to love again unconditionally, my kids are my rocks, no matter what happens in life, I look at them and I see hope and willingness.
Q: How has social distancing changed your “role” as a mom? (Homeschooling, meal prepping/planning, etc.)
A lot! As a mom of 3 It has shaken my floor quite a bit. So many hats got added to my routine that at this point I’m still trying to figure out a balance to carry on with all my responsibility and being a lovely mom.
Q: What are three words you would use to describe YOUR mom and why?
Unconditional love, the life of the party, and my spiritual and emotional rock.
My mom is one that no matter what happens she loves you and forgives. I admire that about her. My mom is just fun and adventures.
She is my rock every time I have a problem, a situation, I’m scared of anything I know I can call her, and without judging she always makes me feel safe.
We asked Fernanda if she could share one word her child(ren) use to describe her. Thank you, Fernanda.
Francesca: My mom is a rainbow. Why? Because she loves colors.
Franco: My mom is beautiful and keeps the house clean. Why? Because. (hahaha)