A mother's love
Chesterfield women share their favorite memories as parents
BY SANDE SNEAD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Woman with two sons: Jeanie Eason loves being a mom to her sons Tyler, 7, and Jordan, 12. She is looking forward to a day at the beach with her family on Mother's Day.

I would be hard pressed to name the best Mother's Day ever for me. That's because my children have been making me breakfast in bed, creating homemade cards and buying me fabulous gifts for as long as I can remember. It's not the stuff you get though, it's the way they smile with pride with every "ooh" and "aah" you make. Your children just want you to know how much they appreciate you, and on this day especially, you really feel the love.

We asked a few Chesterfield moms to share their thoughts in time for this May 13. This is what they said:

Jeanie Eason, 36, has been married to Ray for 15 years as of this Halloween, and is the mother of Jordan, 12 and Tyler, 7. They live in Chesdin Park. Eason was in property management, but about five years ago, she went back to school and is taking the prerequisites at John Tyler Community College to become a registered nurse.

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer

"This is all for my family," she said. "I want to attend any and every thing they do. Nursing will allow me to do this. Instead of working five to seven days a week, I can work two to three days a week. I volunteer one day a week in my youngest son's first grade class as a reading buddy. I am also the Team Mom for my 12-year-old son's baseball team. I have a great family. I would not trade them for anything in the world."

What would be the best Mother's Day gift ever?

It would be being able to tell my own mother I love her! She passed away suddenly two years ago, two days after Mother's Day.

What's the best thing about being a mom?

I love being a mother. I like to see little versions of myself and my husband. I like raising and teaching my sons to be sensitive, caring, educated young men. Children are a gift from God! I cherish every day.

What are your favorite memories of motherhood?

Gretchen Gregory and her children, Luke, Kara and Julia, along with their Yorkshire terrier, Brady, enjoy family life. Gregory says being a mom brings purpose to her life.

This is a tough question. My children have been involved in every sport out there. They play baseball, football, basketball, etc. If I had to pick one, it would be the first time I saw both of my sons on their birthdays. What an amazing feeling! I waited nine long, sick months to meet these precious gifts. Love fills you up inside and out. My cup runneth over!

Karen McCaffery, 41, lives in the Second Branch development in Chesterfield's south side with her husband of 12 years - Mike - and their children, Hannah, 6 and Colin, who will be three years old in July.

McCaffery received a marketing degree from the University of Maryland and enjoyed a successful career in fine jewelry management and sales in the Maryland/Northern Virginia area for 10 years.

"After meeting my wonderful husband and settling into married life for a few years, we relocated to Chesterfield because we felt that it was a wonderful place to raise a family," Mc- Caffery said. "We also made the decision that I would stay at home and raise our children full time, which I feel very blessed to have been able to do. I earned my real estate license in 2004, just two weeks before our son was born, but for now I am keeping my options open as far as my next career. I am hoping that my passion for baking may someday play a part. For now, I am happy raising our children along with my husband."

What would be the best Mother's Day gift ever?

It would have to be homemade cards from my six-year-old daughter and almost threeyear old son. They both love to say, "Close your eyes, Mom!" when they have something special to show me, and then they giggle and shout, "Open!" A few extra hours in bed that morning and breakfast in bed would be close seconds and thirds!

What's the best thing about being a mom?

My husband and I tried for five years to become parents. We endured six invitro fertilizations and were lucky enough to be blessed with our two magnificent children.

The fact that I am a mom, after all of those years of hoping and praying that I would be able to, is something that I am grateful for every day. The best thing about being a mom are the obvious things - kisses, hugs, "I love yous," the smile on their faces when they see me in the morning, the way my son holds my hand every night before he falls asleep, the way my daughter says I am the best mom in the entire world and draws pictures of our family together. It's knowing that the incredibly hard work of raising children the right way is manifesting itself in these beautiful children and the way that they conduct themselves. I feel honored to be their mom, and I feel like being a mom is my greatest accomplishment.

What are your favorite memories of motherhood?

I absolutely loved being pregnant and giving birth, but holding my child for the first time, as any parent knows, felt like an out-of-body experience. It's just such an amazing miracle to be blessed with this tiny little person who is completely reliant upon you in order to thrive. I think the fondest memories I have are being there to witness the little accomplishments as well as the monumental ones. To hear "I love you" for the first time, and every time after that, to watch your child take on a challenge and then succeed at it and to take them somewhere really neat and watch their eyes open wide in amazement. We are avid campers, and the whole family just loves the new experiences that come along with going to new places and discovering new things. I have enjoyed so much seeing the best of my husband and myself in them. I'm probably not the world's most exciting mom, but I feel like the luckiest mom in the world.

Gretchen Gregory, 35, lives in The Forest at Carole Heights with her husband, Kevin, and children Luke, 11, Kara, 10 and Julia, 7.

"Kevin and I have been married almost 15 years. He makes my job as a mother so much more enjoyable," Gregory said. "He is such a great man! We go to Swift Creek Baptist Church and work as missionaries for a youth organization called Word of Life. I am an office manager at Veritas Classical Christian School. I love my job because my kids all attend Veritas. I see them walking the halls and eating lunch. It's a great place to be!"

What would be the best Mother's Day gift ever?

The best ever given by my children has been breakfast in bed and homemade cards. From my husband, the best gift was a gift certificate for a massage - fabulous!

What's the best thing about being a mom?

The best thing about being a mom is the purpose that it brings to my life. There is such a joy in knowing that God has given me the incredible privilege of teaching my children about Him and His love for each of them.

What are your favorite memories of motherhood?

There are so many great memories - reading books in bed, singing songs together, cuddling on the couch, laughing at dinner time and watching my children sleep.