Could YOU be the Mom of the Year?

Well, mommy friends, it’s time we give ourselves a pat on the back and be proud our growing accomplishments!  For every boo-boo kissed, tears wiped, game driven to, and hours up late at night we deserve a little (okay, BIG) WOOT WOOT! We are chefs, educators, chauffeurs, and CHO’s (Chief Household Organizers). We work hard and we play harder all for the benefit of ourselves, our kids and families! 

According to a recent survey *84% of Canadians feel that being a mom is one of the toughest jobs there is. So, starting on May 10th, 2012, Canadians are encouraged to nominate the important moms in their lives for the MOM OF THE YEAR Award. 

Walmart Canada wants to hear about her qualities and her impact. Once nominated, each mom will be asked to outline one charity or cause that is close to her heart because the Award recipient, who will receive $10,000 to pamper herself, will also receive $100,000 for donation!

Who’s going to decide the winner? I definitely wouldn’t want to step into those shoes – although going through the entries would be inspiring!! 

A Selection Committee of Mom Ambassadors comprised of three admired Canadian mothers and two Walmart Canada moms, Olympic Champion and women’s hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, Editor-in-Chief of Today’s Parent magazine, Karine Ewart, and celebrated opera singer, Natalie Choquette will work alongside Senior VP of Marketing for Walmart Canada, Emma Fox and President and CEO of Walmart Canada, Shelley Broader. 

I had a the honour of asking Hayley a few questions about hockey, being a mom, and a few tips for submitting my nominations! 

Hayley: I don’t even know what those terms are. LOL! My style is just my style. It’s what works for me and Noah, My friends tell me that I am pretty laid back, but engaged mom. I have designed our life together to encourage independence and critical thinking in Noah. Noah is a very intellectual and an active kid and I really try to encourage him to try all kinds of things in life – activities, art, music, travel, etc. I just want him to really experience life. I also have some pretty clear boundaries and rules, which Noah and I have negotiated over time. 

Hayley: Of course not. There’s no such thing as perfection. Every mom does the best they can for their kids in the circumstances they have. I think moms are our own harshest critics – of ourselves and of other moms. It’s unfortunate. Of course, there are basic social, societal and safety standards which all mothers should live up to, but beyond that we should not be quick to judge another mother.

Hayley: When Noah was going into Grade 4 we moved to Sweden. Noah was faced with a pretty major challenge as he was new in the country and attending an all Swedish school I was awe-inspired by his ability to adapt and adjust to his new life and handle the integration. I was just so proud of him. I was going through some of the same things adjusting to a new country, culture and language and he did it with more grace and composure than I did some (okay, most) days. Not only did he adapt, but he flourished in that environment. It was truly amazing!

Hayley: I would be pursuing my life as an MD. In fact, right now I am doing both.

Hayley: I don’t differentiate boys and girls on a hockey team, or any other activity for that matter. Girls and boys should play on teams that provide them the best environment for their aspiration. For instance, if you want more fun – play on a team where that is valued. If you want more ice time, play for a team that gives you that opportunity – boys or girls team – it’s totally irrelevant.

Hayley: I don’t see it a girl taking a spot from a boy. On almost every team there are players that make the team and players that don’t. It’s based on skill, fit with your team, etc. Again, I don’t differentiate. Kids are kids. Period.

Hayley: My perfect day is doing not much of anything at all. Noah and I are pretty busy people, like most families, so I would like to just sleep in, cuddle my son (if he’ll let me, as he’s a pre-teen now), go do some sort of activity, preferably outside.

Hayley: I will be looking for a compelling story – that the emotion of the nominator comes through and really helps me to feel how much it would mean to their mom and to understand what it is that is so inspiring about their mom. I am not necessarily, looking for the hard-luck story at all. Just a real story that’s genuine and emotionally connected.

Now, I’m completely inspired!

The Selection Committee will select eight finalists who will be flown to Toronto for a day of pampering, a photo shoot and an awards gala in the fall. Each finalist will received $10,000 to spend on themselves, and seven will receive an additional $10,000 each for their charity or cause of choice. The MOM OF THE YEAR Award recipient will receive $100,000 for the charity or cause of their choice.

Nominations for MOM OF THE YEAR Awards opens nationally on May 10 and closes on July 8, 2012. Visit the official website at www.momoftheyear.ca for all the details.

So, are you thinking what I’m thinking? We all deserve this reward, right? So, good luck and enter every mom that has inspired you! ...and don’t forget to share this story with everyone you know! 

*survey was conducted by Leger marketing for Walmart Canada.