Celebrating My Mother: The Unparalleled Legacy of an Art Therapist and Female Leader

Like most children, few things were known as fact growing up. Few things that were 100% solid in my understanding of the world.  But one thing was unwavering, it was crystal clear in every possible way. My mom was a superhero.

Her superpowers were rooted in a language few knew how to speak but everyone – once open to it – understood. It was the language of art. She had this magical power of helping people who had come undone become whole again. And somehow she did that through clay, pastels, watercolor, collage and dialogue.

I was the only kid who had a mom like mine. And no one knew what an “art therapist” was – not even my smart friend’s parents. She was like a unicorn in my mind – the only difference was she was real.

Also unlike my friends, my mother exposed me to shelters, the homeless community and people who experienced extreme trauma. I can vividly remember a time I went on a field trip to the Zoo with her shelter patients and my mom explained that even if they didn’t seem like most people I knew, everyone was a good person and we would enjoy our time together. She always created an even playing field for everyone and it was ingrained in my understanding of humanity.

As I grew older and started to have a grasp on life I realized the gems I’d subconsciously collected from her. It is without any doubt that, the greatest gifts my mother ever gave me came from watching her work.

There are so many more, but I’d like to share five of the most powerful treasures she gave me:

Work is passion. Having a job is not meant to simply pay the bills. That is certainly an added bonus, but if you’re spending 40 or more hours a week somewhere it better be feeding your soul as much if not more than your belly. My mom is the epitome of passion. You can feel it when she talks about her craft, sets up scaffolding for a mural project (image featured above),  pulls an entire hospital together to create mandalas or travels to South Africa to consult for communities in dire need.

Women are leaders. I never once doubted that I could do whatever I wanted and have respect from every single person in the room because my mother commands it. Her presence is strong and voice even stronger. When she speaks, you listen and when she creates you absorb. And while I would at times be jealous of my neighbors who had mom’s waiting for them at home. I learned that if you can’t be home to make dinner – that’s nothing the Sheppard Pratt cafeteria chicken salad can’t fix! And it doesn’t make you less of a mom for doing so, it actually makes you an awesome mom.

When we can come undone, we can be put back together. No matter how hard things get. Whether it’s the literal fire that trapped my mom and her patients inside her building. Or it’s an emotional fire that needs to be put out. She knows how to do that. Some were easy and others took lots of time. But my mom was always committed to helping her patients work through their pain to become one piece again. And that is the definition of life-changing.

It always gets done in the end. My mom is famous at home for being the procrastinator. Now I don’t know how apparent that is here at work, but I will tell you that I’ve seen my mom pull all-nighters more than I ever did in my entire college career. She thrived from the last-minuteness of her creative side and never worried that it wouldn’t come together. In fact, it was usually her best work. In the end – it not only gets done, it sets the bar extremely high.

Colleagues are family. I didn’t realize how rare this one was until I went out into the real world. In my mind, all workplaces were like Sheppard Pratt. You came, stayed for decades, made a difference, and did so along with your work family. My mom speaks about her colleagues all in the same way she would relatives. She loves them in that way too. The concept of “work family” is something that is not said lightly, and it was said often in our home. The gift of a tribe was the norm for her at Sheppard Pratt.

So as I celebrate my mother’s impact, I want her to know that I’ve been celebrating her every single day of my professional life. I am able to be the female leader I am today because I had the best role model in doing so. My mom’s spirit, authenticity, and passion for your work are unparalleled to any woman I’ve ever known.

May this 24 year closing of her chapter at Sheppard be the beginning of her legacy on humanity. For my dear mother has given a voice to those unheard, she has saved lives, and I know she will continue to impact every life that comes into her world.

Congratulations Mom – you’ve earned it!