In honor of Mother’s Day, The News journalists pay tribute to their mothers by remembering the lessons they taught.

Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere!

***

You wouldn’t know it to look at her, but my mom was a troublemaker. She was the renegade 50-something who sparked and laughed amid the adoring octogenarians at our church’s weekly Lunch Bunch, the imp who rang all the test doorbells at the home improvement store, the green-eyed, harmless-looking woman with thin wrists and a wispy smile who only took no for an answer if that’s the answer she wanted.

Sports reporter Jonny Zawacki is seen with his mother, Judy, at the reporter’s senior banquet at Olivet College in 2015.

The gentle, humble woman who raised me, the one who chatted with the grubby man on the bus when everyone else inched away, taught me to see more than exteriors. She showed me, as I watched her with quiet adoration, that under a layer of humility and sweetness may lie a joyful strength and the courage of a lion. What you see on a person’s outside, my mom taught me, isn’t all there is.

And what’s on the inside might just be worth a look.

–Julie Riddle, reporter

***

My mother — also known as “the boss” — taught me and my older siblings to be independent individuals and to do our own thing, but also to know our limits. She taught us that two religions are better than just one, and to love and appreciate both.

Reporter Steve Schulwitz poses with his mother, Marsha, at the reporter’s wedding in 2001.

Having support from hours away when I went to college up in Marquette and then working here in Alpena is something I’ve always appreciated from my mom. Having her help me in grade school with math homework that I couldn’t understand is also something I’ve also secretly been thankful for, because she made time for me.

Mom, you’re the best. Thanks for supporting me and all the crazy things I do in life. I hope you enjoy your special day!

–Julie Goldberg, reporter

***

My mom always taught us that God should be number-one in our lives. She’s lived with the values from the Bible and she has always turned the other cheek when wronged. I am so amazed by her baking skills — not something that I inherited, but something I enjoy doing with her when we get together every couple of months to bake.

Reporter Julie Riddle enjoys a nuzzle from her mother, Judy Nitz, outside their home in Detroit in 1972.

She has taught me to laugh when the going gets rough, to rely on God in all things in my life. She has shown me that being a mother can also mean being a best friend and someone who will listen when you have no one else to rely on.

— Pamela A. Brunn, page designer

***

Another impossible task.

How do I do a partial summary of everything my mother has taught me without excluding so many things that are important and directly impacted my life and family?

Crystal Nelson and her mother, Diane, pose for a picture in the playroom of the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor.

I’ll give it my best shot. Here it goes.

Mom taught all of her children to always try to be positive and to be proud of our accomplishments and achievements, no matter the size of them. She has encouraged us to pursue our own path in life and to follow and fulfill our dreams. She also explained the importance of failure and how to embrace it and use it as a tool to ensure future successes.

Most of all, she taught my brother, sister and me to love, respect, forgive, and be truthful to all. I’m still working on those.

I may not have applied all of her lessons and advice into my life as often as I should, but I do it more often than not, and it has made me a better husband, father, brother, son, friend and person as a whole. I love you, Mom. Enjoy your special day.

— Steven Schulwitz, reporter

Lifestyles editor Darby Hinkley is seen at age 4 with her mother, Pat Cornelius, at Greenbush Christian Academy in 1985.

***

My mother always taught me that “if you’re going to do something, do it right or to the best of your abilities.”

That famous phrase from my mom makes a short summary of the most important woman in my life nearly impossible.

Not only has my mom taught me incredible life lessons while being the hardest-working person I know, my mom has always been my biggest supporter.

Growing up, it was always comforting knowing that my mom was by my side, supporting me no matter what I did, and those experiences made me realize that my mom was the perfect example of what a mother should be.

Work hard, try your best, never give up, be honest, love and treat everyone with respect, those are just some of the life lessons my mother has taught me. Without you, Mom, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

I don’t need a special day to tell you how much I love you and appreciate all that you’ve done and continue to do, but, in this instance, I’ll tell you, anyway. I love you, Mom, and hope you enjoy this Mother’s Day.

— Jonny Zawacki, Sports Writer

***

My mother has always made the time to be my champion during some of the hardest times of my life. She is always someone I can turn to for sound advice, confide in, and count on for a solid dose of common sense — whether or not I’m ready or willing to hear it. She also makes the best Sunday brunches and gives the best hugs.

She has taught me the importance of being independent, being able to stand on my own two feet, and being able to advocate for myself. For that, I will be forever grateful.

I love you, Mom, and hope you have wonderful day!

— Crystal Nelson, reporter

***

Here are just a few of the many valuable lessons I’ve learned from my loving, generous, reliable, strong, practical, understanding, comforting, and supportive mom, Pat Cornelius:

Family comes first.

Live within your means.

Use common sense.

Do what is right, even if you don’t want to (commonly known as “adulting”).

Don’t judge others.

Respect authority.

Have integrity — do what you say and do it well.

Consider the needs of others before your own.

Don’t waste time doing idle things.

Be on time (Oops!).

Always do your best.

Determination leads to success.

Plan, prepare, and plan and prepare some more.

Be yourself. Don’t try to fit in. Just be who God created you to be.

Thanks for being my role model and best friend, Mom.

— Darby Hinkley, Lifestyles editor

***

My mother taught me to seek God, that the pen is always mightier than the sword, and that we are all God’s children.

She taught me to forgive, to have patience, and to lead by example. To stand up for the right things, even if you have to stand alone.

And, finally, Mom taught me to spend my whole life learning. My earliest memories of her are of her surrounded by books and notebooks and highlighters, studying the Bible or putting herself through college –she was the first in our family to get a college degree –and pulling me to her side to teach me world history and literature and calculus when I was far too young to understand any of it.

I’m still learning, Mom.

— Justin A. Hinkley, managing editor

Reporter Julie Goldberg and her mom, Kay, sit in Julie’s kindergarten class for Mother’s Day 2000 in Clarkston.

Page designer Pamela A. Brunn sits on the lap of her mother, Patricia J., at Pamela’s dad’s laboratory in Jackson in June 1964.

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