The amount of mothers that have started to fill the offices and classrooms of Southwest has grown rapidly over the last three years. Students who do have a mother working at Southwest have noticed the drastic amount of advantages they have and exceptions to the rules here at school. Some have found school as a lenient environment, and that having a parent at Southwest is greatly appreciated.
The Stevens
Senior Jeff Stevens and sophomore Jackson Stevens have always had a rather amusing relationship with their mother, nurse Jill Stevens. When Jill took the job three years ago, Jeff enjoyed having his mother around for him. Jackson feels the same way now that he attends a school his mother works at as well.
“I like my mom because she has many great traits,” Jeff said. “She is kind, caring, smart and a lot more.”
Jackson and Jeff love that they can stop by their mother’s office whenever they need to.
Jeff is very thankful to have his mom not too far away during the day when he needs someone to de-stress with or talk to.
“I’m kind of a mama’s boy,” Jeff said. “When I don’t feel too hot, that’s when I’m glad my mom is at the school.”
Jackson has enjoyed the last two years attending a school his mother works at because of the long list of advantages that go along with it. One has been that she is able to take him to and from school everyday, which helps Jill save gas money.
“I love having her at Southwest,” Jackson said. “It’s convenient having her office so I can use it as a locker if I need to, and that she is always around in case anything happens.”
Jill likes having her kids around during the day and knowing that they are in a safe place or that they can come by for anything if needed. Things seem to be running smoother for the Stevens family now that all of their schedules are similar during the day. Jill has been thankful that she’s able to take her kids to and from school, as well as take Jackson to practice since he is not able to drive yet. There have been several advantages for this family since Jeff and Jackson’s mom works at the school, and Jill appreciates the extra time that she can spend with her children.
“It is great being in the same school as my kids,” Jill said. “It’s not weird for me that we are in the same school during the day, and I actually really like that I’m able to see them more or check up with me when they want.”
The Hayes
Librarian Joann Hayes has worked at the school since it opened three years ago. Hayes had two children attending when she started: a daughter, senior Caroline Hayes, and a son, James Hayes, who has now graduated. Joanne enjoys working at Southwest with teenagers and the opportunities that come along with it.“I enjoy a high school setting because of the sports and others activities that make it so much more like a family than middle school or elementary school,” Joanne said. “It makes it very easy to stay up with what this age of kids are into and gives you great insight into how busy and stressful their lives can be.”Caroline appreciates having her mother around during school hours because of the advantages that go along with it, such as being able to talk to her when she wants, getting to know the staff a lot better and having a stash drawer full of snacks handy. Besides that, Caroline appreciates how close her relationship with her mother has grown and doesn’t find anything strange about her mom working at Southwest.“It’s very convenient having my mom around, and it might actually be better for me,” Caroline said. “She doesn’t intrude on my school life, and she doesn’t stop by my locker during passing periods or something.”
Joanne has respected her daughter’s privacy while at school, and has seen first-hand the experiences her daughter goes through.
“I adopted an attitude a long time ago that this is her space, and I am only filling a part of that by her allowing me a peek into her life,” Joanne said. “I try very hard to stay out of her way and not pry.”
The Moes“To me, being here for my kids during the day lets me really see the atmosphere of the school, and I can really be involved in my kids’ education,” Holly Moes said.
Holly is a para who spends the weekdays helping the kids of room 129 while also helping her own two children, junior Matilyn Moes and freshman Caleb Moes. Both, Caleb and Matilyn enjoy having their mom as a para here because of the advantages that go along with it.
“Nothing is strange about having my mom around the school,” Caleb said. “Sometimes it can get a little frustrating, since she is always there, but I like that she can help me with my school work if I need it.”
Holly has seen a significant difference in her relationship with her kids because of the extra amount of time that she can see them during the day.
“Whenever my kids have a bad day, I can tell immediately,” Holly said. “It’s great that I can be there for them to sort things out during the day in case they need to talk about what’s bothering them to make the rest of the day a little easier.”
Matilyn also agrees that having her mother around more during the day has brought her closer to her mom in the end.
“We have always been really close, but now I can go to her when I need to talk about something or forgot something I needed that day,” Matilyn said. “My mom always helps me figure things out when there is an issue or when I just need someone to talk to.”
The Stewarts
Like Hayes, secretary Meredith Stewart has also had two children attend Southwest at the same time. Meredith has two daughters, junior Emma Stewart and Ellie Stewart, who graduated last year. Emma enjoys how close her relationship with her mother has become, since she spends a lot of time with her at home as well as at school.
“We have always had a great relationship and been close, but in her working at school, I see her much more everyday than I did before high school,” Emma said. “We also have a lot to talk about, because we both understand the things going on around Southwest.”
Emma enjoys that her mother is only a hall away when she has forgotten a parent signature on an assignment or being able to run things by her if needed. Emma always knows that she can come to her mother for anything and never thinks that her privacy is being taken away while at school.
“I only have to visit my mom when I want or need to, which, by choice, is pretty often,” Emma said. “There has never been a time I have felt that she has become a ‘helicopter’ because she works in the same building.”
Meredith is happy with her job and likes that everyday is a new and different experience, whether her children attend the school, or not. Meredith doesn’t think her relationship with Emma has changed much, but her appreciation for their hard work has grown incredibly.
“I am much more sympathetic and understanding than I would have been had I not worked at the high school level,” Meredith said. “It makes me appreciate my children’s dedication to their homework and all the daily expectations that are given to them.”
The McCrossens
English teacher Marin McCrossen has only had one child attend Southwest, and the level of connectivity she has with her daughter, junior Kate McCrossen, has seemed to expand throughout the last three years of Kate’s high school career.
“We have definitely grown closer, and I have become more aware of what’s going on with my daughter and also her friends,” Marin said. “There is a lot that I wouldn’t know about or get to experience with my daughter if I hadn’t chosen to teach at Southwest.”
Kate finds having her mother teaching at the same school she attends a little strange at times, but likes having her there for when she has had a bad day and needs someone to talk to during passing periods.
“What is really weird is having kids I don’t know come up to me and say ‘I love your mom,’” Kate said. “I normally have no idea who they are and how they know who I am, but most of the time having her there is perfectly fine.”
Kate also thinks that she and her mom have gotten along better since they see each other for most of the hours of every day. Kate has recognized that the two have been able to talk more and that she feels comfortable enough to discuss what is going on in her life, as well.
“Having my mom around more has not only brought me closer to her, but if I ever need anything during the day, I know she is there for me,” Kate said. “I like that I can go to her for anything if I ever have anything I need to discuss, she is just around the corner.”
