Interview with Tamara Passey, Arizona Young Mother of the Year 2013

Tamara Passey grew up in Massachusetts and as the youngest of seven children she has always had a strong love of family.  Writing has been her favorite hobby and family members have usually been her source of inspiration.  She won awards for poetry in high school and has had an article and poem accepted for publication in The Ensign magazine.

    While studying English at Brigham Young University she met, and later married Steven Passey.  They have lived in Arizona since 1997 and are the parents of three children.  They love to call Arizona home, and she says they’ve been married 20 happy years and counting.

    Tamara has spent time volunteering at the schools her children attend.  She has also mentored young women and served in an international organization that aids women.  She has volunteered for the Donor Network of Arizona and is a contributor of marriage and parenting articles for FamilyShare.com.

    A few of the many things she enjoys about being a mom include doing almost anything creative with her children, though she claims they are craftier than she.  Having a sit down breakfast when everyone is home is a favorite family activity.  She loves story time, family hugs, and seeing her children’s beautiful smiles.

 Here are a few questions I asked Tamara and her responses:

1. How are you teaching your children to become responsible?

 

I hope I'm teaching them by example. I let them know I love being their mother, even on hard days. I try to show them taking responsibility brings great benefits like feelings of self-worth and accomplishment. They take part in household chores and we (my husband and I) stress we are a family and we help each other with the work that needs to get done.

2. What do you do when you and your child disagree about a family decision?

 

I think we must work it out because I can't think of too many instances where this has been a problem. I credit my children with being rather easygoing in this regard. If it is truly a family decision, we make it together and take time to discuss everyone's thoughts and feelings. Now, don't ask me how we decide where to eat out together as a family! Between special diets, preferences and two children with severe (epi-pen required) peanut allergies --it can take a while!

3. What advice would you give young moms?

 

Learn your gifts and talents. Help your children discover theirs.

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to be a full-time mother. It is hard and happy work and oh, so important.

Reach out to other mothers of all ages for support, friendship and fun. 

Remember that you won't always be so sleep-deprived and your children will benefit from your love.

 

2013 Mother of Education - Janet McCall

Janet McCall was also honored by Arizona's AMI to be an Honored Mother of Education 2013. 

I married my high school sweetheart, and we have been married for 41 years. We have four children, the oldest is a son, and then three daughters.

Education has always been important in my family. My son will soon receive his doctorate degree from USC. My oldest daughter is a registered nurse. The middle daughter is also a teacher, and is working on her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at BYU. My youngest daughter is working on a degree in Special Education.

I have 13 grandchildren and one on the way.

I am a fifth generation teacher. I graduated from the University of Montana and taught school in Missoula, Montana for eight years. During this time I earned a Masters’ Degree in Elementary Education.

We moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 1981, and I taught in inner-city Dallas for four years. While in Dallas, I received the Jack E. Lowe Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 1985, I transferred to the Irving Texas School District, where I taught for five years.

My family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1990. I have taught school at Hermosa Vista for the past twenty three years. During this time, I have served on the Career Ladder Cadre and as a Career Ladder Coach to teachers throughout the district. I have also worked as a site-coordinator for the All Kids Are Gifted Summer School Program, an enrichment program for Title 1 students.

We asked Janet some questions and here are her answers.

 Your children have received advanced degrees.  What did you do when they were growing up to encourage education?

As my parents did for me, from an early age, I was told that it wasn't a matter of if I was going to attend college, but rather which college I would choose to attend. Both of my parents were college graduates as were their parents, my grandparents. Even most of my great grandparents were college graduates. 

Education has always been important in our home, and we always tried to instill a love of learning, as well as, the confidence to pursue a higher education. We also, tried to set good examples by continuing our education, even beyond advanced degrees.

Do you have any thoughts on reading aloud to children--advantages to the children, etc.  Did you read aloud to your children?

         What a better way to learn the fun and flow of our language than through reading aloud to children even before they can speak? I am convinced children who are read to from an early age, develop richer, fuller vocabularies as well as a wealth of general knowledge.

         I read aloud to my children even before they were born. I read and reread many of the children's classics to my children. We read everyday. As they grew older we often read the same books and discussed our favorite parts, Even today, we recommend books for each other to read.

How do you help children who are struggling in school or who don't appear interested?

       My father, who was a gifted teacher, taught me that children do not care what you know, until they know that you care. First and foremost, I realize that each child is a different individual with his/her own talents and needs. There is no one magic solution for every student.  When I encounter a child who struggles, I like to observe him/her for a time. I try to find out as much as I can about him/her... strengths and interests, what motivates him/herm, how he/she seem to learn best. During this time, I try to build a sense of trust eith the student, because often children who are struggling have experience lots of failures and their confidence is very low. Then, I begin with things which I know he/she will experience success, and build from there, using all the data I have gather through observations and assessments. I feel it is also important to involve the parents as a resource, and work with them. Together, parents and teachers make a stronger team to help the child succeed.

Thank you Janet!