I decided to begin a new tradition this year by wearing my mother’s PTA charm bracelet every Mother’s Day. In 1962, my mom was busy at home with four kids, a few dogs, cats, and a big house that wasn’t necessarily the most organized. PTAs, like sisterhoods, were filled with many stay-at-home moms, but no one stepped up to the plate, so my mother reluctantly took the helm. After my mother received the 18-karat gold bracelet, my two sisters, my brother, and I would add new charms as gifts for her birthday or Mother’s Day.
My mother gave me the bracelet when I became president of the Oak Hill Middle School PTA. The gift was especially significant because any one of my siblings could have easily been given this precious gift. I was surprised when she gave it to me, and assumed it was because I was following in her footsteps as a PTA president. In retrospect, I don’t think that was all there was to it.
As the middle sister, my relationship with my mom was a bit muddled. I wasn’t the first one to attempt new things, ultimately needing extra attention, nor was I the last who was able to spend special alone time with our mother. I was the typical middle child who stayed the course and never asked for additional time, since it really wasn’t there. But I think my mother saw leadership qualities in me that my sisters, though very accomplished, didn’t have. Neither sister would lead an organization but would always work within the system to create change.
True confession. Like my mother, I was not excited about becoming an officer of PTA or of sisterhood. Both organizations were in need of new leaders, and I had no intention of being one of them. As for PTA, I aged out once my kids did. But sisterhood was different; it became even more important to me after the kids left. Who knew that becoming temple sisterhood president would lead me to roles within both the Northeast District and WRJ, and expand my leadership skills beyond my expectations?
Sadly, my mom was not alive when I became involved with WRJ, but I believe that she knew what I was capable of accomplishing when she gave me the bracelet. It has meant so much more than just inheriting a beautiful piece of jewelry, and I feel my mom would have been so proud to know that her gift to me was not just a bracelet.
Happy Mother’s Day Mom! The bracelet looks lovely!
Robin Krieger
Temple Shalom, Newton, MA
