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Friday, 09 May 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — One local mom is enjoying her new role as the 2008 Mother of the Year.
St. Marys resident Rita Daugherty has been chosen as The Evening Leader's Mother of the Year. Her daughter Maggie Daugherty, 21, submitted a letter to the paper, nominating her mother for the honor.
Rita said she was pleasantly surprised when she received the phone call from Publisher Deb Zwez informing her she had been selected as the 2008 Mother of the Year, based on her daughter's letter.
"I can't explain in words how it made me feel inside," Rita said. "Words can't describe it. It's an honor I wish every mother could have."
Rita said her daughter told her she was nominating her in the letter writing contest, but she didn't give it much thought.
"Just the fact that she nominated me was enough of an honor," Rita said.
In her letter, Maggie describes her mother as inspirational and having a lot of love to give.
"With her spirituality and her love of everything," she said.
Maggie said that as a rebellious teenager, he mother always stood by her side. Mother and daughter agreed it was a difficult time for both of them.
"Just don't stop believing in your kid — (be) there to turn the negatives into positives," Rita said.
Rita said there were times when being a good parent was tough.
"Going through the tough love, there are many, many times when your heart tells you one thing, but you have to do the parental thing," Rita said. "And it's tough — it's tough love," she said.
A strong faith helped Rita get through those trying times, which she said included, "keeping Christ in your heart. Keep a happy heart."
This was a lesson that did not go unnoticed by her daughter.
"She was just understanding and loving," Maggie said, noting she learned from her mother how a strong family can get through anything.
Maggie said one of the best decisions in life she made because of her mother's influence included "choosing good friends."
While Maggie was growing up, there were countless happy memories, Rita said. Some of their favorite times together included the trips they made to Bear Creek Farms in Indiana on Memorial Day. With father Mike Daugherty working in Ohio, the two would enjoy the weekend fishing and visiting the amusement park.
"We just had fun, we did whatever we wanted to do," Rita said.
Rita recalled one Thanksgiving when Maggie was a preschooler, that she took her daughter downtown St. Marys for an old fashioned horse and carriage ride.
"We each took a cup of hot chocolate and took a ride through town," she said.
Rita said some of her favorite moments today are when she gets to spend time with her daughter, Maggie.
"Our talks, our lunches out together, our laughter — that is the biggest thing, just our laughter together, the kind that fills your heart with joy," Rita said.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 May 2008 )
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