With Mother’s Day falling on May 12, we asked readers to share with us why their mom is the “Best Mom in Suwanee.” We had a number of great submissions and wish we could honor all of the amazing moms in Suwanee and surrounding areas. Our top picks are listed below. Winners receive a complimentary complete makeover from Salon Greco European Day Spa, Suwanee Magazine goodies and the top 2 entries receive a $50 Sugo Italian Restaurant gift card.

Winning Entries

Written by: Jill Balmes
Mother: Gayle Traina
My pastor says, “You have to want more FOR someone than you want FROM them.” These words exemplify my mom. During my childhood, she was the maid, driver, and banker so that my sisters and I could enjoy our life. As teenagers, she became our role model and biggest cheerleader. I can hear her now, “Take responsibility for your actions; Learn from your mistakes; get up more times than you fall; laugh at yourself; understand failure so that you appreciate success; people may fail you, but god never will.” She didn’t hide life’s road bumps but instead taught us that the bumps make the ride worthwhile. Dance in the rain”, “sing out loud in the car”, and “eat dessert first” were not just metaphors to my mom. They were words to live by. Her positivity made us feel like super heroes and that our world is boundless. As adults, she is our hero – who we want to be! It is hard to describe her remarkableness in just 200 words, or one story, or one memory because it was all her words, all the stories and memories, but I can summarize by writing Gayle Traina, the best mom in Suwanee, loves unconditionally!
(Jill’s 2 sisters also submitted heartfelt entries.)

Written by: Sarah Riggs (age 10)
Mother: Charlene Riggs
with assistance from Hannah Riggs (age 14)
The Best Mommy in the Universe!
I know that there are many entries, but I bet I have the best mom in the world.
My mother is always there for my sister and I. If we need help our mother helps us. She wants my sister and I to follow our dreams. If we want to be a musician she’ll try to help either one of us.
My mommy is always doing this for us, like she always cooks our dinner, and helps us with homework. She also has to work from 3:00pm to 11:30pm. She’s a very hard working mother. My sister and I love her for that.
My mother has gone through a lot but she puts my sister and I before herself, which is amazing. My mother does many things for my sister and I, and we haven’t done a lot for her, so we want to do this for her to make her feel special. Thank you for considering our mom the best mom in all of Suwanee.

Written by: Jay Sampat, M.D.
Mother: Sharda Sampat
My Mom, My Angel
My mother became a widow at the age of sixteen. She never married again and returned to high school and completed a college degree and received masters as a Montessori teacher. She was my guiding light, mentor, guardian and friend. Since my father died of small pox, she instilled in me that these types of diseases can be cured before our life time, inspiring me to pursue medicine to become a doctor.
She is deeply religious, teaching me to be kind to others, helpful and truthful. I served in Bangladesh as a refugee physician. After getting married, we moved to Uganda to serve the impoverished. However, our forceful departure from Uganda brought us to the United States. My mother joined us as an immigrant, helping us raise two beautiful children, who have followed in her footsteps of kindness and compassion.
Through the accidental death of our grandchild, my wife’s car accident, battle against breast cancer, depression, a recently broken shoulder and my two episodes of cerebral hemorrhage, my mother has remained the rock that continues to maintain harmony in our household. Her teachings have lead to my serving at several free clinics in Suwanee and Norcross.

Written by: Addie Linder
Mother: Jane Hunt Puckett
My mom is the best mother in Suwanee because she sacrifices anything and everything she has for her children, while also being an awesome person herself! My mom, Jane Hunt Puckett has a lot to offer many industries with her artistic talents. Of course, being the best mom, her talents are often not readily visible, as they are filtered into everything she has given to and does for her 4 children.
My mom is especially amazing because she has an 18 year old son who she still cares for around the clock due to his disabilities and medically fragile state. My mom taught us to have compassion and help care for my brother and anyone else in need who cannot help themselves.
My three sisters and I had big dreams and wishes as children, and she made each and every one of those things happen through one means or another. She taught us to think outside the box and work hard to get what we want by doing so herself and encouraging us to do the same. All the while, our childhood was constantly complicated by stress and sadness with our brother’s condition and father’s subsequent absence. My mother rises to the challenge of not only managing it herself, but also making sure we always get what we want out of life as well.
Most recently, my mom used her small amount of inheritance money from my grandmother’s passing for me to open my dream business in my dream location: my ballet studio in Suwanee. My mom’s happiness stems from what she can give her children and she gives us everything she’s got and more.
I know other moms are great too, but I truly believe my mom is special beyond explanation. Not only does she give unconditionally, it is what she gives: the amazing, talented person she is, that makes her the best mom in Suwanee.

 Additional Submissions

Submitted by: Farnaz Ghaffari
My mother is the most special woman in my life, my best-friend, and confidant. She has given much of herself undergoing many challenges to provide me with the greatest opportunities. At a young age she made a difficult decision to leave her family and her own mother to bring me to America. She underwent the challenges of learning a second language, attending a University where she received her bachelor’s degree and began her life anew.
I recently got engaged and my mother made another bold decision that her and my father move to Georgia to be closer to my fiancé and I in Suwanee.  Even though selling my parents’ business and leaving our dream home was difficult for her, she wanted to live close to her daughter. I am always saddened by the fact that she left her home and community, as she worked hard to make her house a home and built such close ties in our community. However, I am enlightened by how close we are and that we see each other almost daily. My mother is incredibly special to me and I wish one day I can be half the mother she is to me.

Submitted by Jennifer Merritt:
What I would give to surprise my mom for Mothers Day! She has been through it all, but somehow still stays positive and an upbeat person. She is a person to give back for all that she has been given which is another chance at life, two chances actually. My mom never takes time for herself, only for others. I tell her all the time I wish she would slow down and do something for herself, go buy herself some clothes, or just rest, but she constantly stays on the go for others. I guess that is her need or want feeling to give back. My mom is a survivor of a disease called primary pulmonary hypertension. She has always had health problems ever since she was little though with a hole in her heart when she was five. She recently celebrated her 21 year lung transplant anniversary this month on April 4th. I have been blessed to spend so many memories with her. Someone was kind enough to donate their organs so she could see another day. We have tried contacting the family, but no response. Ever since her transplant she has battled some health issues though. She has been in and out of the hospital because of respiratory issues and is only living on one lung. Not too long ago, she got told that her kidneys were failing and had to be put on dialysis. She continued being a great mom and wife as well as working as a nurse. I remember some days she told me she just didn’t know how much longer she could go through with the dialysis. She would have to go 3 days a week from 5 am to 9 am. The feeling that it would make her feel though was horrible. She would be so weak and sick feeling, but she stayed positive and a great mom. She kept going is how I could describe it. Finally, she got the call for a kidney transplant. One of her cousins decided to be tested for her and he donated his kidney. She is no longer able to work though because of the risk of getting sick, but she still does continuing education just in case she decides one day to go back. To keep herself busy though she gives back to the community so others can feel appreciated. Every holiday, even the smallest holidays such as Valentine’s Day she will make gifts and take out to businesses around town. She even found out that one of the men at the post office was diabetic so she buys certain candy for him so he can eat it. She will never say no to anybody. She makes sure that others stay happy and feel appreciated for what they are doing. She is also taking care of her parents which are declining with age. I wish I could surprise her for Mothers Day somehow. Once I saw this I just had to write an essay about her. Please consider in choosing my mom for the Mothers Day surprise. Thank you!

Submitted by: Kelly Chilton
Mom: Gayle Traina
It is easy to not truly understand what an amazing mom you have when you are young.  However, as I became older, and a mother myself, it became more clear just how blessed my sisters and I were to have her as our mother.  The difficult thing was to figure out her secret to doing it with grace, and making it look so easy.  The statement that describes my mom the most, is totally and completely selfless.   I can honestly say that in my 30 years of life, she has never put herself before anyone.  Whether it was taking my sisters and I to school and sports events growing up, to caring for our dad who was ill the last 10 years of his life, to taking the “Nannies” of the neighborhood to lunch, the grocery store, or doctor appointments if needed. Our mom taught us to be friends with everyone, to always help others, and to truly appreciate it when you are given help.  She has genuinely never expected anything in return for her selflessness, except to teach us girls the same values!  I strive to be half the mother to my girls.

Submitted by: Miranda Espinosa
The Love of a Grandmother
Ever since I can remember, nothing has been more rewarding than being picked up in the green Camry and riding off with my Nana by my side. Grandmothers naturally tend to have strong bonds with their grandchildren, but the bond I share with my Nana surpasses all. I reminisce about nights spent “sock-skating” on the cold kitchen floor and long walks around the lake, discussing the importance of “quality over quantity” when it comes to friendships. It seems like yesterday. Although she is the grandmother of six grandchildren, Nana finds time for each one. Her love is unending.
She is a survivor of many obstacles. My Nana found the strength to independently move away from her childhood home in the country to the bustling city of Atlanta. Later, she overcame breast cancer. Nana has shown me what it means to be a strong, independent woman. She has shown me what love truly is. Through her generosity, I know what selflessness is, and she has set the standard of what I can only hope to become as a grandmother myself one day.

Submitted by: Jai Khanna (6 years old)
Mother: Navdeep kaur
My mom is the best . She makes my beding. And she cleens my room for me.and lets me have no rules timeand lets me pick the seereal but sumtime’s my older brother Dev gets to. And she gets me evry singl thing that I need . She gives me helthy food and sometimes non  helthy for disert. She helps me. She teechis me .She loves me. She helps evrybodyand is nise and prity . She helps pore people. She maix me smart .She likes evryone. She foloes thr president of Unites states of amaricas los and evry president’s los. She dusn’t do bad stuff.She only dus good stuff.She respects God and every persin in god’s world isept the devil and bad anjuls.She respects everyone insept for bad people and people who fite.She savse people who needs to go to the hospidl.She helps pore people. She helps kids who need help in sumthing thats noy math or eny riting or draing.She makse me helthy.She is so good. She lets me go outside to play for a longtime.She lets me have fun.She loves me.I love her.

Submitted by: Dev Khanna (7 years old)
Mother: Navdeep kaur
My mom is the best because she takes care of me, helps me and teaches me. And  she is also very nice and she does a lot of work. She is smart and she takes me out and lets me have a lot of fun. She is very strong and caring. She lets me go everywhere and she is very fair and she always gives me the best! She lets me do anything and she looks after me and makes me feel better. She cleans and she loves me and keeps me safe and teaches me lessons. She keeps happy, healthy and entertained. She is a hard  worker and well-mannered person. I love her and she loves me, she is the best mom ever!

Submitted by: Ria Sardana (4th grade)
Best mom in Suwanee!
My mom is the best mom in Suwanee. My mom is helpful , understanding, and super smart. She is so precious to me that I don’t even have words to describe her. She makes me feel special most of the time. She is always there for me whenever I need her, for my homework or when I get touched by anything.  She takes care of me when I feel down, by relating her memories to my situation. She loves to share but she is a very good listener too.
Understanding is what she is most good at. She understands my problem like nobody else. My mom understands when somebody doesn’t want to be my friend, or if I am getting bullied. She tells me look on the bright side, not the negative side. Not just that, if I feel that I am getting mistreated she tells me to speak up for yourself.
As a person, she loves music, reading, shopping, art, games, yoga, and healthy food. She has a very good taste for clothes but she is also a super saver. I love her cooking, because she serves us healthy and delicious meals.  I learnt many things from her, but the best I would say is to be hard working and determination. She tells me not everyone can be smart but your hard work never goes waste and will get recognized one day. She encourages me to participate in different activities at school and also does volunteer work for my school.
That is my mom!!!!!!!!

Submitted by: Janani Rammohan
When I was three, my family moved to Georgia. My mother could have resumed the promising career that she left when I was born; rather, she stayed at home and read to me daily until I could speak well enough.
Mom made school much easier for me in many other ways. She bought numerous workbooks, begging and bribing me to finish them. I hated doing them at the time, but now I realize how much it has helped me. Whenever I had difficulty with a subject, she would work with me tirelessly until I understood. I thought she was stern and unfair at times, but have realized how this helped me to be more determined and hardworking. As school and impending college applications have become more stressful, my mother encourages me to keep going. Whenever I forget to finish an assignment, she drives me to school as I scribble furiously.
Despite all this, we still have fun. Mom would surprise me on weekends with trips to the zoo, museum, or park. Often, we go on walks around the neighborhood, stopping every five minutes to look at flowers or birds. Now, we read many of the same books, often discussing them or quoting humorous passages.
Most children feel abandoned when their siblings are born, but I never did. During my mother’s pregnancy, she let me read her brochures and help pick my little sister’s name. She encouraged me to play with my baby sister and made sure that I never felt left out.
My mother has never hesitated to sacrifice anything for me. She pushes me to do the best, never accepting anything less. Yet she has made life enjoyable, and for these reasons I believe that she is the best mother not only in Suwanee, but in the world.

By: Michael Buchanan (3rd grade)
Mom’s Name: Monique Doss
My Mom is the Best in Suwanee!!
My mom is the best mom ever in Suwanee, because I get all my information from her and she feeds me because I am her kid and my mom keeps me safe and tells me to do the right thing and not the wrong thing and she does remind me to go to bed on time and wake up on time. My mom gets me stuff when she has enough money, so she can buy what we need in life before toys. My mom also is the best mom in Suwanee, because she tells us what her plans are before she does it. She makes sure I’m feeling ok before I go to school and gets me to school on time. She also drives me safe and sound from place to place so I will not be hurt. If we break down in a car, I am safe and sound because our window cannot be broken and doors are locked tightly so noone will hurt me or my mom.

By: Raven Webb (3rd grade)
Mom’s Name: Kim Webb
My mother is special because….she is very funny and always makes funny jokes. She is the best mom in Suwanee, because she helps me with hard things in my life. One time I was very sad and my mom cheered me up. My mom also makes me happy because she is not like other mothers. She keeps me very safe and I feel comfortable when I am near her and happy to have her!
I love my mom!!!

By Jack Bedard (3rd grade)
Mom’s Name: Kim Bedard
My name is Jack Bedard. My mom’s name is Kim Bedard. My mom is very cool once you get to know her. I think my mom is the best mom in Suwanee, because she plans special vacations. She also gives us the right food and drinks that  we need. She also lets me and my two brothers go and do sports and fun activities. My mom has a job and works really hard to earn money.
She also buys stuff that we need like milk, eggs, and bread. She also buys stuff that we want like a bike. That’s why I think my mom is the best in Suwanee.

By Joshua Kang (3rd grade)
My mother is the best mother in Suwanee, because she loves me, cares for me, and makes me food. She is also good for a laugh, she buys me books when I want one, and encourages me when I do something very hard. She also cheers me up when I’m sad. She also is very nice, and gives me second chances. SHe also takes me to the pool even though she doesn’t want to., She is a very hard worker. She is very smart and has passed every test she has been given except for one little test. In all, she is a great mother.

By Brody Peterson (3rd grade)
Mom’s name: Carey LaFeve
My mom is the best in Suwanee, because she cares for everyone. She does fun stuff when we have time. She loves me and my family. She stands up for me when I’m bullied. She makes me laugh when I’m feeling sad. I think my mom is hilarious. Her laugh is funny and cute. Every night, she or me read out of the Bible. Whenever I need help with my homework or anything she helps me with it. She comes and reads for us at our school. She does not get mad at us when we are bad. She buys my clothes and food and healthcare. She pays for me, not only if she wants to. Thank you mom!!! I love you and I know you love ME and my brother Owen and our family and friends.

By: Elizabeth Keller (3rd grade)
Mom’s name: Jamie Keller
Why I love my Mom!
I love my mom because she is the funniest one in town. She has 3 cats, but one is her favorite and that’s Stinky.
Stinky is her favorite and she loves him so much that she will get on our coffee table and sing real loud with Stinky in every sentence. Like this, “Stinky you know that you rock and Stinky you’re the best in the town.”
The second reason why I love her is because whenever I try to do something alone she always comes in and does it with me. One time when I was 4, she came out of the playroom with plastic high heels and a pink wig. She had a long blue skirt on and a mustache on. She had a purple shirt with flowers when I just had a long green dress on.
I also love my mom because one time I was on a cardboard box when my sister pushed me down the hill. My mom hopped on and slid down with us.
That is why I love my mom and I hope you do too!

Ashton Frankel (3rd grade)
Mom’s name: Cassie Dixson
My mother is the best in Suwanee. I’ll have to tell you why!
My mom is the greatest in Suwanee, because she is very thoughtful. She has the mind of an elephant. She is very smart and giving. She gave poor people money. People in poverty have food because of my mom.
She is a very hard worker. She can fit 7 clients in one day. Now that’s a lot of clients!! She is an interior designer. She picks the trim color and the backsplash in the kitchen. She is working very hard.
I gave you the things that my mom does best. As her son, I am proud she is my mother. I love her very much.

By: Stephano Doig (3rd grade)
Mom’s name: Gloria Herencia
My mother is the best mother in Suwanee because she takes care of me, makes me food, buys me clothes and shoes, buys toys and sports equipment, buys medicine for me when I get sick, and is really friendly, caring, and lovable. She likes to take me to my soccer games and practices. She loves it when I score goals and gets really worried when I get injured or sick.
My mom is also really funny and fun to play with. She likes to play “New Super Mario Bros.” on the Wii. My mom also likes soccer and watches it on TV. My mom is also very athletic when she was young. She was really fast and played volleyball. Well, this is the story of my amazing mother. Thank you Mom for being there for me!! I love you and I know you love me too!

By: Delaney Brown (3rd grade)
Mom’s name: Lori Brown
My mom is the best mom because she makes me food and she lays in ned with me if I can’t fall asleep. She tells me funny stories and does funny things. She takes me and my sister on vacations to fun places like to the park to go bicycle riding. She even took us on a cruise, she picked a good one with a pool, waterslides, and even an ice skating rink! She purposely picked that one because it screamed fun. My mom is awesome, funny, nice, and playful!

By: Li Wong (3rd grade)
Mom’s Name: Raquel Ortiz
My mom is the best because she helps me do my homework. She takes me to fun places. She makes me the best breakfast in town. She’s really nice and happy all the time. My mom bought me a phone and an I-touch. She will always be the best mom in Suwanee and in the world. Sometimes she will be crazy like my Dad when she has fun.

By: Kasia Doyling
Mom’s name: Monic Doyling
My mom is special because she is really cool, nice, sweet, awesome, fun, and funny. She’s the best mom ever. She smells good like honey and flowers.
She takes care of me. Tomorrow she’s taking me to the dentist and for my birthday she let me pick out a toy. She has a job for a reason. It’s so she can pay for things like the rent, light bill, water bill, and the tv. My mom is the reason I’m alive. My mom’s name is Monic but you can call her Mo for short. Monic is an awesome mom. I love her so much! She’s awesome!
She’s full of joy. She makes sure I eat food before I go to bed. That’s why I love her!