What Matters This Mother’s Day

Ellen Ditonto — this week’s featured writer — said it best: “You know that the moment you hold your precious child for the first time your life will be changed forever.”

We are humbled and grateful for this chance to honor the life of her dear grandson, Johnny LaMancuso, and to tell the story of one of our community’s most courageous mothers this holiday: her daughter, Gillian. Please read this week’s cover story. Read it to honor Johnny. Read it to hold up in prayer the entire LaMancuso/Ditonto family. And maybe most importantly, read it to remind yourself about what’s truly most important this Mother’s Day.

Because if you’re like me, you spend many a mothering day worried about matterless minutiae. It’s the grind of the schedule, the rides, the endless kid-ATM out your wallet. It’s the laundry, the homework, the mess and more mess. But these precious responsibilities — no matter how young or old yours may be — have changed your life. Now keep making a valuable difference in theirs — with as much grace and joy as you can. Take some perspective from Gillian and focus on what really matters.

Let the small stuff go — and truly, cherish each moment this Mother’s Day.