Powerful Moms

From left to right: Susan Sholl (UNICEF’s Chicago Humanitarian Awards co-chair 2015); Sue Duncan; Wendy Serrino (U.S. Fund for UNICEF Midwest Board Chair); Susan Schmitt (UNICEF’s Chicago Humanitarian Awards co-chair 2015) “Mom’s philosophy was, ‘You are on this earth to make the world a better place…She built confidence that you could do anything, you could be excellent and she could help you get there.  She was, and is today, very powerful.”

“Mom’s philosophy was, ‘You are on this earth to make the world a better place…She built confidence that you could do anything, you could be excellent and she could help you get there.  She was, and is today, very powerful.”  —Sarah Duncan, Honey Skinner and Keith Goldstein on Sue Duncan, Founder of the Sue Duncan Children’s Center.  

Honey Jacobs Skinner, Keith Kiley Goldstein and Sarah Duncan know about good moms and power.

As the 11th of 13 children, Honey could have gotten lost in the pack.  Instead, she graduated from Harvard and became a partner at Sidley Austin with a powerful lobbying practice even while she was raising 2 great sons and is supporting her husband’s high profile career (Sam Skinner was Chief of Staff for George H. W. Bush, among other powerful jobs). Illinois state legislators consider Honey an angel for children because of her thoughtful work on behalf of Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Keith Kiley Goldstein earned a Wharton MBA and worked in commercial banking and real estate before deciding to exercise more power on behalf of children through organizations like the Ounce of Prevention, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and Civic Consulting Alliance while raising her two children and supporting her own powerful husband (Rodney Goldstein is a Managing Partner of Frontenac Fund).

Because they are inspiring women and moms in their own right, it really caught my attention when Honey & Keith wrote about Sue Duncan, because she so inspires them.

Sue raised 3 kids – including Sarah and current US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan – with them working at her side in an after school tutoring center that she founded in one of Chicago’s worst neighborhoods.

Sue’s compassion, determination and dedication transformed the lives of thousands of children who most needed help.  And she raised amazing kids in the process.  Please learn more about Sue’s work and watch the inspiring documentary shown at the UNICEF event where Sue was honored.

A great mom like Sue Duncan is a powerful person indeed. Thanks for reminding us all of that, Honey & Keith.

Proud Mama Moments

Sons Nick and John Noyes

Please allow me a few proud mama moments.

Nick:
Married to great woman – check
MBA and Masters in Real Estate from Cornell – check
Good job offers – check

My work is truly done for this one, right?

John:
21 years old today
Astronomer
Rower
Junior at Cornell
Thoughtful of all others

Proud and happy that my work isn’t done with this one!

The mom moments are still the best ones in life.

All That I Am I Owe To My Angel Mother

“All that I am I owe to my angel mother”
– Abraham Lincoln

Much that I am I owe to my mother too – but she was so much more than just an angel. Her playful, determined spirit is devilishly disarming. And that’s allowed her to be a wonderful change agent for the better for women, children, and society.

Much that I am I owe to my own children too. Being their mom keeps making me better.

Photo courtesy of Earth Heart Foundation, whose mission is to honor and empower mothers in the United States as change leaders and peace builders.
Happy Mothers Day.

Lives Made Better 92,901 and counting

Quotes That Remind Me of Our Potential for Greatness

If you are like me, you can use reminding of all that life can be. We each have the ability to become great – as doers or as parents fostering the best in our children.

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother. 
Abraham Lincoln

Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value. 
Albert Einstein

Great men are they who see that spiritual is stronger than any material force — that thoughts rule the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.
Mark Twain 

Lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and, departing, leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Glory In Your Motherhood

The greatest gift – new life.