As you probably know, Sunday, May 12 is Mother’s Day. A celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society, moms all around will be honored with gifts, flowers, breakfasts-in-bed and Sunday Brunches.

I sat down with three East Dallas women who shared their views on being a mother and what they hope to accomplish for their daughters.

When Jeannie Courtwright was asked to contribute, she replied, “sure. I love being Sunny’s mom.”

Jeannie lives in Lakewood with her husband Jeff, her daughter Sunny, and dogs Ginger, Savannah and Buddy. Jeannie is a graduate of SMU, but she wasn’t always a ‘city girl.' She grew up in a country-like atmosphere just outside of Lewisville, Texas. She also grew up loving and riding horses. She is an accomplished equestrian, and “like mother, like daughter” as the old saying goes, Sunny is filling Mom’s boots.   

Jeannie said, “Sunny and I share our love of horses. We love being outdoors, away from the ever-present technology of computers, phones, and TVs, where we are swept away into a world of sunshine and dirt, fresh air and freedom. Together, we are in a place surrounded by nature and an animal that can grow a girl into a strong, confident woman.”

“Riding is not an individual sport, it’s a team sport,” said Jeannie. “You are a team with a 2,000-pound animal.” Jeannie believes that the responsibility of a horse develops friendship, integrity and respect for God’s creation. She said it takes the focus off of the individual and gives life more meaning. And, she added, “It creates memories—memories of love and hard work. I hope that is what Sunny will look back on someday.”

In addition to sharing a love of horses, mom and daughter enjoy camping out with Sunny's Girl Scout troop, tending their small flock of backyard laying hens and preparing meals together.

Sunny is a fifth grader at St. John’s Episcopal School, and Jeannie is attending Dallas Theological Seminary.

Heather Gream is originally from Louisiana and often refers to her “Southern roots." She holds a BA in English from North Eastern Louisiana University and a graduate degree in Humanities from UT-Arlington.

Mom to six-year-old Isabella and 15-month-old Banyan, Heather believes in empowering women, nurturing their ability to create and giving them the tools to love and take care of themselves.

She believes in the concept so strongly that she teaches childbirth preparation and is a Birthing From Within™ Mentor and a Dancing For Birth™ Instructor Trainer. Both Isabella and Banyan were born at home with the help of a mid-wife and husband, Brian.

Dance and expressive arts have always been important to Heather, and she incorporates them in all phases of her life and her family. She teaches “Rhythm and Rhyme,” a mother/child song and movement that is designed for even the youngest of babies to learn and enjoy. She holds a "blue belt" in Nia—a sensory-based movement practice that draws from martial arts, dance arts and healing arts.

With a strong sense of responsibility for Mother Earth, Heather said, “we often walk instead of drive, we carry our own re-useable grocery and produce bags, and Isabella takes a waste-free lunch (no zip-close bags or plastic wrap) to George Dealy Montessori School. 

Heather said, “I call myself a pescetarian. I eat fish, (preferably wild-caught), and I eat eggs (free-range) and dairy. Partly because I think it is a healthier way of eating for my girls and me, but partly because I believe animals are treated inhumanely when raised for consumption.”

And what does she hope to instill in her girls? “I hope to teach them compassion, reverence for life, stewardship of creation and recognizing spirit in all things,” said Heather.

Deborah Adams is a graduate of Agnes Scott College, an all-women’s school just outside of Atlanta. After graduation, she spent two years in Japan teaching English on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program. She worked for nine years in financial planning, and she is a Certified Financial Planner™.

Today Deborah is wife to Ken, and mom to three little girls, nine-year-old Isabelle, seven-year-old Katherine, and three-year-old Trinity. The family shares their home with two frogs, Fredy and Ferdinand.

The two older sisters attend Providence Christian School, where Deborah often volunteers. She also works in the church library.

As a child, Deborah, too, developed a love of horses, and sees their benefit in teaching responsibility and respect to young girls. Isabelle and Katherine take riding lessons at Park Lane Equestrian.

Advocates for clean water throughout the world, the family began making origami-style Christmas ornaments a few years ago to raise money for Living Water International. Deborah said that her role in the project teaches her daughters community service and caring for others who are less fortunate. The fund-raising experience has been rewarding for the entire family. Why origami? Ken’s mother was Japanese and taught her son how to fold origami as a child, and he passed it on to his daughters. The skill just so happens to coincide perfectly with Paper for Water’s mission: “bringing water and the Word to the thirsty one piece of paper at a time.” 

What is the greatest gift a mother can give to her daughters? According to Deborah, “it is a strong faith in God; a connection to God that is real and tangible—one that shows up in their life every day.”

On motherhood, Deborah said “this is the greatest time ever to be a mom because we have so many choices. We can stay at home, work outside the home, work part-time or volunteer.”

Deborah cautioned to never forget the women who led the way.

“The word feminist often gets a bad rap, but they were the pioneers who sacrificed and paved the road for us.”