I had the opportunity to interview former pro volleyball player, model, author, fitness expert, wife and mother Gabrielle Reece for this month’s feature article. Gabby embodies the spirit of Natural Awakenings Long Island wholeheartedly. She has obvious insight into fitness and nutrition, as well as a steadfast opinion on balancing the different roles of the 21st century woman. Gabby’s book, My Foot Is Too Big for the Glass Slipper, is her lighthearted yet amazingly accurate look at today’s woman in each of her many roles. Gabby stresses with confidence that we must as women have our own success.
The month of May is special because it has a day exclusively for honoring mothers. Can woman be successful mothers and at the same time have their own success like Gabby says? I believe the answer is yes. I have seen it done before. My own mother, in the 1970s, managed to run a business, play tennis, have romantic dinners with my dad, and even vacation without her children (gasp). I didn’t realize it then, but she was balancing her roles. My mother had her own successes, her own friends, and, honestly, her own beautiful life that I was, no doubt, a part of, but I was not her obsession. As a child, I never doubted she loved me and would go to the ends of the Earth for me, but she was not easily manipulated, was not hovering, and she was always calm and positive. My mother stressed independence vehemently. Don’t believe me? I started sleep away camp when I was 6. It is now a great family joke. Mom: “Were you 6?” Kelly: “Oh yes mom I was ”. Yet my mother was “there” so consistently that when I exited my tumultuous teens and successful 20s and it was time to pick my maid of honor for my wedding, she was my first choice. My mom is amazing. The perfect role model, happily engaging in her life and letting me become a part of it. She is a rock who faced terrible pain in her life and an angel in her unwillingness to burden her children with that pain. A pure heart and an amazing friend. I am blessed and thankful every day for the way she raised me!
Mothers are not only the women who birth us. “Mothers” are often the women who come into our lives unexpectedly. They are teachers, mentors, even in-laws! (Yup, I said it, IN-LAWS!) Imagine my shock when I won the “mother lottery” a second time around after marrying my husband. Everyone loves my motherin- law (me included!). She is my biggest champion and fan. Natural Awakenings is distributed to 800 locations, but more than likely, you got a copy of this magazine from her . She supports her children with a pride that makes you blush and simultaneously gloat!
I know they broke the mold when they made these two women I call mom, but perhaps if I am lucky, and more importantly if those two beautiful kids in the picture above are lucky, I will have my own mold that is made up of their two halves!
Happy Mother’s day everyone! When you think about it every one of us, is in the role of mother to someone!
