Being a mother is the highest calling in life. It requires us to give ourselves wholly to our children as we raise them to become great human beings – a task that lasts way beyond the years kids spend at home with their moms. But for some mothers, the nurturing sentiments involved in raising their own children spill over into helping others become better people too; participating in community, church groups, school or charitable organizations demonstrates these special mothers’ ability to take on more than the usual home life responsibilities, and in the process teach their offspring to give of themselves for the benefit of others too.
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Time Warner Cable’s 50 Best Moms contest recognizes these special mothers each year, and what better way to find out what makes them stand-out moms, than in the words of their own children. <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />San Diego County school children, from elementary to high school, are eligible to participate in this contest by sending in an essay describing why their mom should be chosen as one of San Diego’s 50 best.
I asked Tiffany Lynch, Community Relations Manager for TWC, to tell me more about the contest. “This is the eighth year of the San Diego’s 50 Best Moms essay contest. We recognize that moms and mother figures do so much to shape their children’s lives, and the essay contest is an opportunity for kids to tell their moms how much of a difference they've made. Many of the moms [in the contest] have faced adversity and the stories that are winners show how those moms shine in adversity”.
I also asked Lynch why choose 50 best moms and not 1 or 100. “I’m not actually sure why we do 50 rather than 1 or 100, but it seems like a good number to celebrate (not too many, but not too few). Another thing to note is that all of the moms are our Best Moms, but we do choose 3 essays (one each at the elementary, middle and high school levels) that is the best essay. That student wins a Sony VAIO laptop and their teacher wins a $250 gift card for school supplies” she added.
Most of my blog readers know that in 2006, Time Warner Cable selected me as one of San Diego’s 50 Best Moms based on the essay written by my then-ten-year-old 5th grade daughter. As a past Best Mom and judge, I am honored to again join the many outstanding members of the judging panel to review essays for this year’s contest. As Tiffany noted, “Many elected officials love to be involved in the essay contest and celebratory luncheon on Mother’s Day weekend because it’s such a positive event. We have many politicians and members of the media that help us judge the essays.” San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Diane Bell, KUSI’s Sandra Maas, and San Diego Council member Kevin Faulconer are among past contest-judges.
Contest winners will be personally contacted by a Time Warner Cable representative and given the good news. They will also receive and invitation to attend the splendid awards luncheon held at the La Jolla Hyatt Regency on Saturday, May 9Th, where they’ll be awarded a keep-sake trophy and gift bag courtesy of this years sponsors: Mission Federal Credit Union, Sony Electronics, Soap Net, Ultra Star Cinemas and the San Diego Repertory Theater.
The contest is now closed, and we are in the process of reading and selecting the winning essays (tissue boxes at the ready!). I will be attending this year’s TWC 50 Best Moms Award’s luncheon, and am looking forward to hearing about the remarkable 50 Best Moms of 2009 who live among us and are making a difference in our fine city.
Wishing all entrants the best of luck!
It's hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you?re talking about! Thanks ..
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