In case you need a reminder...Mother's Day is Sunday, May 10th! We asked CJ employees from across our global offices to share their favorite memories with their moms and a peek into their daily lives as moms. The result? Photos and moments that are sweet, funny, and honest. Here's to celebrating moms this weekend whether you're six feet—or 6,000 miles—apart.
Taji Nizar, Client Development Associate, Munich, Germany
What's your favorite memory with your mom? My momma loves gardening. When I was in primary school, she would make the most beautiful bouquet of flowers for me every Monday. I would walk into school, with a bouquet in hand, and it was the best way to start off my school week. It's one of my favorite childhood memories with her.
How are you celebrating your mom this year? I was never the one with green thumbs, but this year, I've started my own little garden! I can't wait to surprise her with pictures. We live miles apart from each other (she's back home in Sri Lanka) so my garden brings her one step closer to me.
Ashley Gwiazdzinski, Client Development Manager, Chicago, IL
What's your favorite memory with your mom? My mom and I have a tradition of going to traditional tea a few times a year. We love trying new places and going back to old favorites, but the treat of having an afternoon with my mom just talking and enjoying one another's company makes it a treasured memory. Last year we spent Mother's Day having tea at the venue I was getting married at that fall and having that afternoon talking about all our memories over the years and making plans for the wedding is something I'll always cherish.
How are you celebrating your mom this year? Hopefully with a delicious brunch at home and watching some of our favorite Hallmark movies!
Nicole Ron, VP, Marketing & Business Systems, Santa Barbara, CA
What's your favorite memory with your mom? Each spring break, my mom and I would use our tax refund to take a mini vacation together. We always stayed within driving distance but we'd take the opportunity to explore a cool area of California.
What do you love about being a mom? I love seeing the world through my one-year-old daughter's eyes. The things that bring her unbridled joy remind me daily to pause to enjoy and appreciate the little things.
What's it like to parent during quarantine? Any funny or interesting mom-moments? It's chaos but it's been a blast too. I've gotten to see my daughter take her first steps, I get to hear her daily happy squeals of joy and I get to spend my lunch breaks with her. Currently, I'm mediating between her and our newly adopted cats. She's VERY excited about them!
How are you celebrating your mom this year? A video call with her and my daughter where we commiserate over the joys and challenges of motherhood while enjoying a large glass of wine and a piece of cake. I'm also sharing my first Mother's Day celebration with my daughter's first birthday!
George Yuhba, Network Development Director, Chicago, IL
What's your favorite memory with your mom? A few years back, we took a family cruise to the Mexican Riviera. My mom didn't want to get off on one of the ports so I stayed behind on the ship with her. We had fun just talking, relaxing on the pool deck, enjoying a mother/son lunch, and even saw a few events and performances they had for those on the boat. Coming from a large family it's rare to have alone time. So I cherish that day my mom and I spent on the ship!
How are you celebrating your mom this year? I'm 1,700 miles away from my mom and the family. Since travel is not advisable, we are coordinating a special cuisine for both locations and video conferencing the family house with my apartment for a Mothers Day dinner. She is also a fan of "The Young and The Restless" and I got one of the actresses on the show to make a special video for her as a surprise!
Ashley Hardy, Sr. Client Development Manager, Santa Barbara, CA
What's your favorite memory with your mom? Baking Christmas cookies with my mom and sister. Every year for as long as I can remember during Thanksgiving weekend we'd put up Christmas decorations and make hundreds of Christmas cookies from family recipes. So much flour, so much frosting!
How are you celebrating your mom this year? Unfortunately, I cannot be with my mom this year for Mother's Day, but I did send yummy turkey and cheese croissants!
Kenya Feinberg, VP Corporate Development, Atlanta, GA
What do you love about being a mom? Being the mom of a 15 year old...my finger is always on the pulse of what's cool, and what's NOT cool. Never do the floss dance in public!
What's it like to parent during quarantine? Any funny or interesting mom-moments? I'm actually enjoying every moment...except having to relearn all the math I thought I'd never see again like quadratic equations and recursive formulas for geometric sequences.
Liane Soto, Client Partnerships Associate, Chicago, IL
What's your favorite memory with your mom? If I had to pick, I'd say that I love whenever she and I could have some time for ourselves. Whether it was at home, going for a drive or hanging out somewhere. When Dad isn't around and it's just us, we get to talk on a deeper level and share in some good ol' fashioned girl time. It's the best.
How are you celebrating your mom this year? Like many retailers right now, one of my clients, Torrid, was having an amazing 50% sale the other day and I saw a shirt that I knew my mom would love. You ever look at a piece of clothing and think: "that looks like so and so"? It was that kind of feeling. On top of that, back home in Puerto Rico, my parents live close to the beach. I told my dad that if he ever got lucky on a trip to the grocery store and found lobster to get her one. That's one of mom's favorites.
Camy Gehrke, Senior Group Director, Client Development, San Francisco CA
What's your favorite memory with your mom? My favorite memory with my mom is when we visited Monte Carlo together. Both of us love to travel. We spent a lot of time at the beach eating shrimp, playing tennis at the Monte Carlo Country Club, and simply exploring the beautiful country of Monaco and all that it has to offer.
What do you love about being a mom? There are so many things I love about being a mom. I love that I'm responsible for this little human being, educating him and ensuring that he grows up to be a kind person with strong values. I also just love making my seven-month-old laugh. His smile and giggles bring me more joy than I ever imagined.
What's it like to parent during quarantine? Any funny or interesting mom-moments? I'm fortunate that my son can't crawl yet! It's definitely challenging making sure we have enough diapers, baby wipes, and baby food, but we're making it work. The funniest moment is me taking my son to the doctor wearing a mask, and my over-paranoia to ensure I'm keeping a six foot distance from everyone. I'm definitely showing signs of being an overprotective mother!
How are you celebrating your mom this year? We will be doing a video call with my mom so she can see her grandson, while celebrating in the backyard with wine, BBQ, and my two quarantine partners (hubby and son).
Monique Zapata-Kaufman, Group Director, Chicago, IL
What's your favorite memory with your mom? Dancing to reggae playing from her record player.
What do you love about being a mom? Seeing how much they evolve and change every single day. Seeing some of my own traits (which are sassy to say the least) in my own kids with their sarcastic responses. They crack me up.
What's it like to parent during quarantine? Any funny or interesting mom-moments? It takes a lot of brain power and patience. It can be exhausting most days, tbh. It also has lots of pros like all of the bad habits they were picking up at school are now gone. ;) We've all gotten very creative on how we create change to our days at home.
How are you celebrating your mom this year? Not sure what the family has planned but I am treating myself to a new ice cream making machine. #summer2020 #treatyoself
Samantha Leon, Client Development Director, Chicago, IL
What's your favorite memory with your mom? The day she was able to ring the bell at the Mayo clinic when she completed five weeks of radiation for breast cancer. She's such an inspiration.
What do you love about being a mom? My daughter is such a nut—so sassy and smart. I just love hanging out with her and seeing what she'll say next.
What's it like to parent during quarantine? Any funny or interesting mom-moments? Homeschooling is so difficult. My daughter is in a dual language program. It's so hard to teach her Spanish when I don't speak Spanish. Thankfully there's Google translate!
How are you celebrating your mom this year? With a custom photo gift and virtual brunch.
Parneta Talwar, Client Services Associate Analyst, Bangalore, India
What's your favorite memory with your mom? I remember when she came to see my dance performance when I participated at a state level, she literally gave me a surprise by standing right in front of me in the audience. I'll never forget it. She's always been a part of my ups and downs and that's a special memory for me.
How are you celebrating your mom this year? Luckily this time I am here with her, so don't want to miss this golden opportunity!
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