Cathedral Prep faculty members celebrated Mother’s Day earlier this month. In a year of uncertainty and confusion amidst a pandemic, the annual celebratory activities in honor of our greatest caregivers stood firm. Mrs. Quinn, a mother and also a math teacher at Prep, normally prefers to stay out of the Mother’s Day organizing and leave it up to the kids, and this year was no different. 

“I usually stay out of all the planning and do what [my children] tell me to do,” said Mrs. Quinn. “I tell them I plan dinners and stuff all week so that one day is one that they can take care of for me. They do a great job.”

Mrs. Quinn sees Mother’s Day less as a day to relax, but more so a time to appreciate her children and the memories she has made with them as they have grown up. 

“I think it’s a day for me to think back to when my children were born and the happiness that brought me then and the happiness they continued to give me throughout their lives,” said Mrs. Quinn.

The math teacher’s favorite Mother’s Day was one that she shared with her own mom shortly after moving back to Erie.

“When my family moved back to Erie about 14 years ago, it was my son’s first communion. It was with my mother and was the last Mother’s Day we had with her. It was just a very nice day,” said Mrs. Quinn.

Mrs. Quinn did not anticipate too much of a difference in celebrating Mother’s Day this year and just hoped to spend it with the ones most important to her, whether it be dining out or staying in. 

“I just hope that all of my children and their significant others can be with us and we can have some nice quality time, whether at home with a nice meal or out with a nice meal,” she said. “I’m not hoping for any specific gift, but I always love a nice plant.” 

Also teaching math to the students of Cathedral Prep, Mrs. Worline spent this Mother’s Day with her three children Carissa (12), Tara (10), and Eli (7), and her husband. While the holiday does not seem in itself overly important to her personally, Mrs. Worline finds that what her children decide to do for her ends up making it special. 

“My kids definitely make it special, especially at such a young age. It’s like that one day where they kind of make it over the top for me,” said Mrs. Worline. “But I enjoy being a mom, so it’s not necessarily important to have one day to signify it. I totally enjoy every moment of it not just one day of it.” 

Mrs. Worline’s children step into the kitchen Mother’s Day morning and create the “special” memories their mom values so much. 

“My 9-year-old who’ll be 10 in June made the eggs, heated up the leftover ham, made the toast and buttered the toast, gave me chocolate milk, and then brought it all in on a tray; it was cute!” said Mrs. Worline. “They made it completely on their own. Like I wasn’t even allowed in the kitchen!”

Sentimental family times like this make up a majority of Mrs. Worline’s favorite past Mother’s Day memories. She values spending quality time with her husband and children more than any other celebratory activity. 

“Whether it’s going to the park or just going outside to play ball, as long as we’re together, I’m happy. There’s times that they’ve had sporting events on those days and I’m okay with it because I’m watching them do what they love to do and it makes me proud as a mom, too,” said Mrs. Worline. “And they make it a point to get along specifically on Mother’s Day, so that’s nice too!”