In celebration of Mother’s Day, SparkVision got to know some dynamic mother/daughter duos.
Kathie, a trailblazer in her industry raised a go-getter Millennial, Meg. As a mom now, Meg knows the values her mother instilled in her. We hope you’ll enjoy a piece of their story on this reflective day!
Kathie Cahill has an educational background is as a teacher and taught briefly in a high school in Upstate New York. The bulk of her employment has been in sales. She has been the president of a manufacturers rep company for more than 20 years and is the only woman in her industry who has held a position on the national association board for 6 years. Women in her field are not common.
What did you see in your daughter at an early age that now serves her well as an adult?
Kathie: Her independence. She was always about “I do”. Didn’t really want any help and wanted to figure things out for herself. That quality is invaluable.
What do you see in your mother that you now see in yourself?
Meg: I hear my mother’s voice – her words, her tone, and her inflection – come out of my mouth on a daily basis. Her standards she holds herself to – both personally and professionally – are very high and I think I share those same standards. People joke that every woman eventually becomes her mother and that usually carries with it some sort of negative connotation, but I love that my mom has been the model for me.
What are you most proud of when you think of your daughter/mother?
Kathie: My daughter is a compassionate woman who is trying to make a difference in the lives of others. That quality is not that common. It’s great to talk compassion but then you need to do something about it and Meg is all about action.
Meg: Her super-human ability to move time and space, which is how I assume she manages to do all the things she does in one day. Growing up, my mom managed to run her own company, volunteer regularly for causes that were important to her, and she still had a hot, homemade dinner on the table every night. She was a constant, supportive presence at my swim meets, plays, and tennis matches – she never missed anything. She has always managed to live a life of integrity and she makes the time to support the things and people that are important to her. It makes me proud to have a parent who is so dedicated to every aspect of her life. She is the living definition of a “supermom”.
What’s the greatest lesson your daughter/mother has taught you?
Kathie: Meg has taught me how great it is to have a daughter who is not only a daughter but also a best friend. It’s a rocky road navigating the parent-child field of land mines. Making the transition to being two adults, respecting one another even when you do not agree has been a wonderful and heartwarming experience.
Meg: My mother’s attitude has always been extremely positive; she has a perpetually sunny and determined outlook on life. Even in times of trouble or failure, my mom has an unwavering commitment to looking on the bright side and working hard to find the way through. She taught me that with hard work and positive attitude, you could accomplish anything you want.
What’s the biggest difference you see in today’s times (vs. when you were raising your child/being raised) that creates challenges or ease?
Kathie: The incredible speed at which technology is changing the world is an enormous difference. Technology can be either a plus or a minus and it’s here to stay. Meg and all parents will need to mitigate the negatives and focus on the positives to cause technology to work for them. Children can have instant information 24/7 and they will need assistance in discerning true or false on what they are exposed to. That can be terrifying.
Meg: Of course, the answer is the pervasiveness of modern technology and the access we now have to information and resources. I have every advice book or parenting blog at my fingertips when I have questions. I can pull up Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood or Sesame Street on our TV on demand. In a pinch, I can have food delivered to my house by clicking a button. Technology makes my life as a parent easier, but I do worry for my daughter. Information and people are now available 24/7 and I hope to teach her how to be discerning about her time and attention. I want to teach her how to critically evaluate the information she’s exposed to so that she’s making thoughtful choices.
What’s one thing you’d like your daughter/mother to know this mother’s day?
Kathie: Parenting is a job that has no training manual. It’s all OJT (on the job training). Every child is different. You have to lead with your heart and the rewards are sometimes very far in the future. Trust your heart and hang in there even on the days when you would like to give your child away to any stranger. I can tell you every parent has fantasized about doing that on the worst days.
Meg: I want my mom to know how much we value her. She’s spent 30 years giving everything to my family and me. I want her to know that I recognize the amazing work she does and I appreciate it. As a new parent, I’m starting to realize the commitment and energy it takes for her to be the kind of mother she is and I’m so grateful for her efforts. I love you, mom!
