The Bellaire Buzz Mother of the Year

Vivian Jamail, Zoe Jamail

This Mother’s Day is even more special for one Bellaire mom, Vivian Jamail, who was chosen “The Bellaire Buzz 2002 Mother of the Year.” Vivian was unaware her 17 year old daughter Zoë had even submitted an essay about her, so winning came as quite a surprise. “I didn’t get my mom a birthday gift,” said Zoë, “So when I picked up The Buzz and saw the contest, I thought this would be a good gift. Zoë is a senior at Bellaire High School and will attend the University of Texas next year. Her 15-year-old sister Emma is a sophomore at Bellaire High School, and her brother Zack, 14, attends Pershing Middle School. The Bellaire Buzz would like to congratulate our winner, Vivian Jamail, and all of the moms whose children (and even one husband) were thoughtful enough to write and submit an essay. We wish you all a happy Mother’s Day.

Left to right: Judges Tillie Wiedemann, Polly Alam and Maria Chavez, with Magpies gifts owners Maggie Farrar and Alexis Ofczarzak

Our panel of judges
We received nearly 50 essays, making it quite a challenge for our judges, which included Polly Alam, Branch Manager, Washington Mutual Bank – Bellaire Branch, mother of 2; Maria Chavez, Magpies gifts’ first employee and lifetime resident of Bellaire, mother of 2, grandmother of 1; and Tillie Wiedemann, receptionist for City of Bellaire, 40 year resident of Bellaire, mother of 3, grandmother of 2. Each judge was asked to read all the essays and narrow it down to a short list of three finalists. The judges then met at Magpies to compare notes and select the winner (over coffee and beignets). Each essay was assigned a number to keep it anonymous. “I looked for something from the heart,” said Tillie Wiedemann. Polly Alam said (referring to the winning essay,) “This child learned about respect, admiration and compassion from her mother.” Polly added, “As the mother of an 11 year old boy, you never think the notice what a mother does.” As Maria Chavez put it, “it was nice to hear a teenager talk so lovingly about her mother.”

Prize package
As “The Bellaire Buzz 2002 Mother of the Year,” Vivian Jamail will receive the following gift package generously donated by these local businesses:

Brighton watch – Magpies gifts ($100 value)
Roc Dermatologic skin care products – Bellaire Eye and Laser Center ($250 value)
Manicure and pedicure – Etheria Salon & Day Spa ($50 value)
Gourmet coffee gift basket – Bellaire starbucks ($65 value)
Glass bird feeder – Wild Birds Unlimited ($40 value)
One-hour massage – Body Alive ($35 value)
Dinner for two – Pico’s Mex-Mex Restaurant ($25 value)
Flower arrangement – Bellaire Randall’s ($25 value)
Clothing gift certificate – Sample Shop ($25 value)
Manicure and Pedicure- Spice Nails ($25 value)
Gift Certificate – Saltgrass Steak House Meyerland ($50 value)

Zoë Jamail will receive one dozen donuts a week for a year, compliments of Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

Mom of the year
By Zoë Jamail, Senior, Bellaire High School

I have been extremely blessed with a single mother who has put up with my ridiculous schedule, while trying to balance two jobs and two other children with schedules just as busy as mine. She has always showed incredible support in everything that her children do. She has always been completely willing to rush me from my soccer game to my softball game that is an hour away, even when she had to make it to my brother’s baseball game. She has never once been opposed to me doing all that I do, even if we can’t afford it and even though sometimes it was harder on her than it was on me. Juggling two jobs and raising three children is only half the story when it comes to my Mom’s daily routine. As a single parent with two high school daughters and a son in middle school, my mom always has her hands full. She is constantly running from one place to another, and she almost never has any time to herself. Yet, I absolutely never hear my Mom complain. Even when she suffered from a corroded artery dissection earlier this year, she was bound and determined to jump right back into the swing of things after being in the hospital. Whether she is running from game to game so she can cheer us on from the sidelines, or whether she is cooking dinner after a very long day at work, she takes it in stride and does it with a smile. The thing I admire most about my Mom is her compassion for others and her kind heart. She has taught me to accept everyone, no matter who he is. She has taught me that love is the most important thing in life, and she has showed me more of it than anyone ever could. I look around at other moms and I see how completely blessed I really am.

From the mouths of babes:

“She does not make us eat yucky vegetables, but she does like us to take two No-Thank-You-Bites.” – Jamie Townsend

“When she gets on a snowmobile, she is one tough mama.” – Riley Farrar

“She burned a frozen pizza and instead of getting mad, she took us outside and we played Frisbee with it.” – Mary Jo Brown

“She is very accurate and mature 0 Stephanie Lim

“She will never give up. She has the courage of one million strong men.” – Sean Chang

“She tells us good advice like not to rob.” – Alba Penate

“The most wonderful thing about my mom is that she is always on my side.” – Paige Hawley

“…she’s nice and skinny.” – Garrett Browne

“She deserves to be someone famous because all she’s been is a plain old mother.” – Nikhil Roy

“She types fast, and in very good words. But most of the time she’s like a computer genius.” – Brittany Rosenthal

“If I were ever in trouble my mom would become Super Mom and rescue me.” – Samantha Maher

“Every morning, she tickles me awake for school.” – Matthew Darlow

“If I had a chance to pick a new mom, I would even pick her over Bill Gates.” – Paula Lopez-Gamondi

“My mom even stays home every day. Her job is to be my mom.” – Hannah Robbins

“We’re more handfuls than she has hands to fill.” – Jacqueline Aragamany

“She can read my mind or something.” – Amy Engler

“…but the best thing she’s done is have me.” – Emily Graves

“If moms had a test on motherhood, my mom would get a 99 because she’s not perfect.” – Hannah Jones

“…she never makes fun of people, she never brags.” – Jenny Lane

“I know her job can be really nerve-racking because I’ve been there 2 or 3 times and everyone is working.” – Jordan Kelly Gunning

“My mom has talked about being mother of the year as far back as I can remember, and this is her big chance!” – Aaron Hafer

“She works at a clothes place…they have beautiful clothes. I want my mom to be in the Bellaire Buzz because more customers can come in.” – Brandon Levinson

“She can get mad, but she’s only human.” – Alyssa Jaffer