The Plant City Times & Observer partnered with Grimes Hardware to host a special Mother’s Day Essay Contest this year.
We asked Plant City-area children to send us a few words telling us why they love their mother. We received so many wonderful, touching and adorable entries, and we thank everyone who entered.
Ultimately, we selected 9-year-old Kenley Connell as our grand-prize winner. With Kenley’s essay, her mother, Erika, will receive a bird feeder and restaurant gift card, a combined $100 value, courtesy of Grimes Hardware.
See Kenley’s winning essay below, as well as some of our favorite submissions.
GRAND-PRIZE WINNER
My mother, Erika Connell, is amazing. She helps me when I am down in the dumps. She always has a funny joke to tell me.
I recently showed a pig at the Florida Strawberry Festival. When I got fifth place in my class, my mom cheered me up by saying that my pig was the BEST in her eyes! She helps me every day with my homework and many other things, as well.
She gave me the blessing of having a sister and two brothers. She takes amazing care of every single one of us. We are very grateful to have a mother like her. I wish everyone had a mother like her. We love her very much.
Kenley Connell, 9
THE FINALISTS
As every kid can agree, all moms ever created can get on your nerves. Sure, you get in fights, you say, “I hate you,” and be sarcastic to your mom. Everyone does that at one point. But despite all of the bad, there is a lot of good to every mother. My essay will describe why I love my mother.
First, my mom will go to the end of the Earth to protect and help me. For example, I am an awesome student. I have always made straight A’s. Sure, that is probably some of me and my genius. But, I am sure there is more to the story. My mom is always there to help me with my homework. She always explained to me the hardest concepts the best way she could. Even when she had no explaining left, she found someone else to help me.
In addition for always helping with schooling, she also passed a law! My twin and I always preferred to be in the same room when learning. But every single school and, in fact, anybody without twins, always has the same thought: “They’re twins, they will think the same. Then we will assume they were probably cheating on each other.”
Which, of course, is absolutely not true. But anyway, neither my sister nor my mom thought this was fair. Something had to be done, too, because in a couple of grades, they were going to physically separate us. She and some of her friends brought this to the State of Florida’s attention. She personally had written and emailed all of the senators and all of the representatives from the house. She got calls from a lot of people. They created the law, and then the governor signed it. Now today, all parents of multiples have a say in whether they want their kids together or separated.
Last — but certainly not least — I love my mother, because she does a lot more than I realize for me. She provides me with food, she cleans my clothing (I fold it), she gives me a nice home with a stable environment, the list goes on forever and ever. She is always there for me and supports me. She is more than some kids could ever ask for. She goes above and beyond for most tasks.
And, she loves me.
As you can see, my mom is a top mom, and I love her for that. She is not only supportive and nice, but she is cool and awesome (at least she tries her best to be teen-level awesome). She is the best mom ever, and she deserves to get a great gift for Mother’s Day!
Emma Kordek, seventh grade
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I love my mom, because she takes me skating. She takes me to the parks. She takes me swimming, too.
She cares for me. She feeds me. She also gets up with me so early, and she fixes me breakfast! She plays with me, when she does not feel well.
She buys me all kinds of toys.
But, sometimes, she’s mean — because she has to be.
I love my Mommy so much! She keeps me very, very, very safe. And she lets me buy lots of Pokémon cards. I already have four tin cans, because she bought all of them for me.
I love my mom, and she loves me with all her heart.
Makayla Lauren Jenkins, 7
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I love my mom, because she helps me when I am frustrated. She is kind to me and makes my favorite foods a lot.
Whenever I am sick, she always tries to make me feel better. For instance, once, I had a tummy ache, and it was contagious. She couldn’t sleep with me, so she made a pallet in the floor and lay beside me until I felt better.
She never forgets about me, even though I have a brother around who is 2 years old.
I love my momma, also, because she is very funny
Whenever I do something wrong on accident, she always supports me and doesn’t get mad. Even when my mom is mad or upset with me, she doesn’t stay mad, because she loves me.
I love my mom, also, because she is very generous and kind to everyone.
I would do anything to give my momma the best Mother’s Day of her life!
Kadence Helton, 8
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My mom is one of a kind and is very unselfish. She gives more of her time and she does not expect anything in return.
She takes us to places such as Disney and watches out for us. And is always there if we need someone to talk to. We can go to her for anything — like whenever I have a problem at school, I know that I can go to my mom with it.
She is very giving. I remember one time, I was at a tournament for Special Olympics, and one of my fellow team members was hungry, and the girl’s parents were not there. My mom went to go get me food, and she brought back food for my friend, so that is why I think my mom deserves to win this contest.
Jamie Clopton, 22
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I love my mom, because she knows what it means to be heroic, loving and a true survivor (breast cancer) — and deserving enough to be called “Mother of the Year” every year.
Nothing humbles her more or puts a smile on her face like paying it forward while giving back to others. Little did she know that people she helped to care for would be her saving grace when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
It was quite a battle, but she knew that nothing could break the bond of love that surrounded her, which proved to be her hero.
Maria Lisa Andrade, 24