WJ_MothersDay2017

Mother's Day A H O L I D AY & C E L E B R AT I O N G U I D E

May | 2017

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Wednesday Journal, May 3, 2017

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Mother's Day | 2017

Staff

The Community of Motherhood

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Editor Lacey Sikora Photographer William Camargo Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Mark Moroney, Debbie Becker Display Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Display Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Joe Chomiczewski Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Media Coordinator Kristen Benford IT Manager /Web Developer Mike Risher Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

other’s Day, like motherhood itself, is one of those things that manages to be so very individual and so very universal at the same time. As I celebrate the day with my two children, I feel blessed to be raising these two individuals unlike any others in the world, and as I look around me, I see mothers old and young experiencing those same feelings for their families, large and small.

In spite of the fact that Mother Nature gives us moms a full nine months to prepare for the miracle of childbirth, I remember with great clarity the moment the gravity of the task of being a mother hit me for the first time. It wasn’t when I found out I was expecting, or when the doctor placed my son in my arms at the hospital. The weightiness of the responsibility hit home for me when I realized the nurses were letting us leave the hospital with our child without an instruction manual.

After the panic passed, I realized that

Published by Wednesday Journal, Inc., 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Phone: 708/524-8300

On the cover: Karen Mullarkey Kerrins enjoys a sunny day with her three children.

PATRICIA LOCKE TRUNK SHOW

as miraculous as this tiny human being was to me, mothers from all over the world had been doing this for thousands of years. As the years have passed, like all of those mothers before me, we have survived, we have struggled, and we have thrived. From mastering car seat buckles, to removing training wheels, to the joys of parenting in the age of cell phones, each new phase brings a new learning curve.

My sweet little babies are now fully ensconced in the pre-teen and teenager world, and the years ahead of high school and drivers’ licenses seems more daunting than changing diapers and making bottles ever did. Watching my son and daughter become the people they were meant to be also provides me with more joy than I ever expected. They may grow older, but as I remind them every day, they will always be my babies. On Mother’s Day, I plan to take a day to reflect on just how happy that makes me.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Courtesy Lacey Sikora Lacey Sikora Spending time with my family is the best activity on Mother’s Day.

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Mother's Day | 2017

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Page 9 Wednesday Journal, May 3, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, May 3, 2017

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Mother's Day | 2017

Motherhood as a Return to her Roots

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or Karen Mullarkey Kerrins, returning to Oak Park to live with her husband Marty when they were expecting their first child was a natural decision. Both she and her husband were raised in Oak Park and graduated from OPRF and knew several young families making the same return trip after living in the city.

“Having both grandmas within a mile of us was a draw. We have quite a few family members within walking distance of our house, and it has come in very handy over the years.”

Mullarkey Kerrins’ two daughters are third generation students at Ascension, and she relishes the sense of community provided

by Ascension and her long-time friends from OPRF. “When our youngest was born two months early, my cousin organized our Ascension community and they cooked dinner for us for several days a week for three months. To have that kind of support when juggling kids and a preemie is priceless. We also have lifelong friendships from OPRF high school that are more like family. This is a really special community filled with people that truly care about their family, friends and neighbors.”

Part of Oak Park’s appeal for Mullarkey Kerrins is the diverse offerings of schools, parks, libraries, stores and restaurants, and the mix of conservative and liberal people that makes Oak

Park unique. As the owner of local business Affordable Backyard Tents, Mullarkey Kerrins often use the family business to support local charities and has been on the board of the OPRF Chamber of Commerce for eight years and counting.

Another cause near and dear to her heart is West Suburban Special Recreation Association, where she has served as a trustee on the foundation board for the last nine years. “Our oldest son has special needs, and the amount of services available to him in Oak Park is very important to us. WSSRA is an amazing organization, and it has enabled our son to have friendships and acitvities he wouldn’t have otherwise been able to join in on.

WSSRA partners with the Oak Park Park District to offer extra support with one-on-one aides within both organization’s classes and camps.

This has been life-altering for us and our son.”

Mullarkey Kerrins also says her family proudly supports local organizations Oak Leyden and Opportunity Knocks for the much-needed support and social opportunities they provide to families and participants with special needs.

For Mullarkey Kerrins, Mother’s Day, like life, is a juggling act. With time for both grandmothers, brunch and a little chaos thrown in, she also feels the day is a wonderful time to pause and reflect about how blessed she is to be a mom and to be surrounded by family and friends.

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WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

Karen Mullarkey Kerrins enjoys time in the backyard with Keegan, Regan and Riley.

Wednesday Journal, May 3, 2017

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Mother's Day | 2017

Two Moms + Three Boys = One Great Family

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hen Gail and Barb Vijuk moved to Oak Park in 1995, it was somewhat of a compromise. Gail was raised in a small town in northern Canada and enjoyed the quiet of small town life. Barb was raised in the northwest suburbs and enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city. Oak Park gave Gail the small town vibe she was looking for and provided all of the amenities of a nearby city for Barb. Today, they are happy to be raising their three boys in a town of great architecture, interesting history and people committed to social causes.

Life today is somewhat busier than it was in 1995 – the couple are mothers to three boys from third grade through seventh grade. Like many families, work and kids’ activities make for a jam-packed calendar. As their family has grown with the addition of three boys, they see the values of Oak Park every day. Barb notes, “Our family of two white moms and three brown boys feels safe and valued here. I forget that we are a ‘conspicuous’ family until we wander farther afield, because no one looks twice at us here.”

For Gail the sense of community Oak Park provides is a key to making the community a home. “We have a wonderful

school and church community here that are such a blessing to us. Our kids are heavily involved in sports, and we have found the local sports community to be another amazing experience with some phenomenal coaches who are mentors and role models for our boys. Additionally, I have found that there is an awesome and supportive community of parents in this village – from the friend who drops off a piece of cake when you’re having a bad day to the supportive folks who reassure you that all parents struggle with similar issues when you think you’re doing it all wrong. The openness is amazing.”

With two moms in the house and a schedule full of sports, both Gail and Barb say that Mother’s Day may not be a traditional holiday, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t take time to savor the day with their family and other moms in their tight-knit community. One of the boys likely has a hockey game, which means plenty of time together as a family, and they often bake cookies or buy flowers for the other moms on the team. This year, the family looks forward to hosting Mother’s Day for their au pair’s mother who will be flying in from Germany to visit him.

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

The Vijuk family enjoys a rare pause for a family photo.