Written by Samantha Carmean, Development Administrative Manager

We often call her “Mom” like it’s her only name, like her identity began the moment we were born. But before she held us in her arms, she was already someone — a woman with dreams, fears, quirks, strengths, and a story all her own.

This Mother’s Day, I want to honor my mom and all moms not just for who they are as mothers, but for being the women they are, and the little girls they were – strong, complex, and full of life and color.

She Was Someone Before She Was “Mom”

As a young girl, my mom LOVED her Legos, especially her favorite set: Santa on his sled with his reindeer pulling him. She liked her Dynamite Doll that came with a motorcycle, and she has ALWAYS, (to this day), loved superheroes - especially Wonder Woman. She would sew clothes for her Barbie dolls or make them out of tin foil (something she had taught me how to do). She used to play basketball with her next door neighbor and make dirt racecourses in their front yard for their matchbox cars (clearly a bit of a tomboy). Every once in a while, she loved to climb the Mulberry Tree at the 15th hole of Mt. Pleasant Golf Course. There was a hole in the metal fence to get through, and the tree was right next to it. She remembers the mulberries being delicious!

I’ve seen glimpses of who she was before me in old photos and family stories – the one of her in her high school yearbook when she won the Departmental Art Award for Best Artist. These pieces matter, because they remind me that my mother isn’t just mine — she is her own person, too.

Her Womanhood Shaped Her Motherhood

So much of who she is as a woman has shaped how she loves. Her motivation for justice taught my siblings and I to always speak up when we saw unfair treatment. Her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit have taught us to seek adventure and find wisdom in life’s experiences. Her keenness for balance in life has taught us how to live in the tension of our dreams and limitations. And, her compassion has taught us to be genuinely curious about the people around us.

Believe me when I say, she brought her full self into parenting. Not just her care, but her creativity, her style, her humor. I still remember the one summer vacation my dad had a medical emergency and had to stay back. My mom drove me and my three siblings for six hours in our minivan to our annual Schlitterbahn Waterpark trip in New Braunfels. She was determined to be the “fun parent” and did everything she could to ensure all the kids still had a great time. All I remember is how awesome the wave pool was, but my mom says that trip was a nightmare!

She Still Has Dreams, Too

Even now, she’s still growing. Still becoming.

She rides a 300cc scooter with her scooter club and paints murals on walls. She solves the newspaper crossword puzzle every week and passionately keeps herself aware of social issues. She does bible study with her girls and is always contemplating life’s deep questions - until she remembers that some things just don’t have answers. She and my dad are finding new adventures all the time – going to concerts, hanging out with their friends, and traveling to Germany for Oktoberfest. It inspires me. It reminds me that we never stop becoming ourselves, no matter our age or our roles.

This Mother’s Day, I See HER Fully.

As I honor my own mom, I can’t help but also think of the mothers that come through our doors at New Friends New Life — women who have faced unimaginable hardship and still show up every day for their children and for themselves. They attend GED classes, therapy sessions, economic empowerment courses, and case management care. They, too, are more than “mom.” Before they were mothers, they were little girls with hopes and imagination, shaped by both joy and pain. And today, they are brave women who have chosen to begin again.

They carry not only the weight of their past but the strength of their healing. Their stories may include trauma, exploitation, or trafficking, but those are only parts of their journey — not the whole of who they are. They are artists, leaders, dreamers, and nurturers. They are building new lives while raising children with courage and hope. They are redefining motherhood on their own terms.

This Mother’s Day, at NFNL ,we see HER - fully. We honor HER resilience, HER softness, HER power. We celebrate her decision to seek the life she deserves, not only for herself but for the generations after her. Her love is fierce, and her transformation is profound.

To Every Woman Who Is a Mom — And Every Mom Who Is Still a Woman

Thank you for being all of who you are. Not just the nurturer, but the fighter. Not just the caregiver, but the dreamer. This Mother’s Day, we honor your full story — your becoming, your bravery, and your boundless love.