Gloria Mosebey
Age: 56
Location: Emporia
Occupation: Housewife.
Family members: husband, Dennis, 58; twins Amy and Ashley, 25; Annie, 18; and Rusty, Yorkshire Terrier, 7
The last time my children made me laugh: When they imitate opera singers while we play cards.
The last time I made my children laugh: When they came to the hospital and my hair was all gone due to chemotherapy.
I carve out time for myself by: Getting up early enough to say prayers and go to daily Mass, playing the guitar, piano and accordion at home and at several rest homes.
The television mom I’m most like: Roseanne
The hardest thing about being a mom: Trying to stay open-minded and think like the young people of today’s generation.
The most fun thing about being a mom: Seeing my daughters succeed at what they do and listening to them talk with one another, their friends and me. Also the one year that we helped take care of Micia Amos who was diagnosed with leukemia and taking care of her at our house. And, finally, when I can play and help Amy, Ashley and Annie get ready to sing for weddings.
My favorite outdoor activity to do with my child: Going to all kinds of amusement parks and riding the thriller rides with my daughters — except for the Tower of Terror.
The one think I wish I had known about parenting before I became a parent: It is never as easy as others or the books tell you it will be.
The most important life lesson I want my childREN to learn: To trust and respect other people when they deserve it and most importantly, to trust in God (Matthew 6).
The invention I wish I could create to make my life easier: An automatic house duster.
My proudest moment as a parent: When all my adopted daughters developed the same love and talent in vocal music as I have and how well they did at their grandparents’ funeral when asked to sing.
The way I encourage “green” habits in my children: We used to pick up trash on the big hill behind our house on Willow Lane and in the neighborhood. I still pick up what I can as I walk.
My favorite book to read to my children: “Bucky the Bookworm” and “Over in the Meadow.”
My no-fail stress reliever: Praying a rosary and reading devotional literature such as books about the saints. And also a husband who will listen when I need to talk and be supportive and not judgmental.
Favorite way to slow down as a family: Playing international rummy — for money, of course.
I hope my kids inherit: My love of life and my devotion to our Catholic faith.
The toughest thing about raising teenagers is: Learning to listen to their point of view.
The greatest thing about raising teenagers is: There is never a dull moment and it keeps you sharp just trying to stay ahead of them.
The greatest thing about my children leaving the nest is: The times when they just sit around and talk and laugh with each other and with me.
The hardest thing about letting my children leave the nest is: To see how the rest of their life turns out and how effective we were in doing our main job of teaching them right from wrong and how they do.
When I have 30 minutes to myself: I read devotional literature or pray a rosary
My best money-saving tip: Keep your credit cards under control.
Three things on my personal “bucket list” are: Be a grandma (but not in a real hurry); visit the Vatican and Lourdes, France, some day; take all of my family to Las Vegas.
I fit fitness into my life by: Walking 45 minutes almost every day with my husband and our Yorkie, Rusty.
My favorite game to play as a family is: Balderdash
If I could have one super power it would be: Being two places at once.
I realized I turned into my mother when: I was able to and decided to stay home for my kids and when I ran our house as strict as my Mom did with the eight of us.
The future parenting moment I fear the most: When my children leave us and are on their own. I hope they will be happy in their lives and choices they make.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a parent is: When Amy, Ashley and Annie became teenagers, setting curfews and enforcing them and working out agreement with my husband so we both sent the same message to them.
The last time I said “I’m sorry” to my children was for: Falsely accusing them when I thought I had the facts correct but did not.
If I could change places with anyone, living or dead, it would be: St. Theresa, the Little Flower who said, “We need not do great things courageous and bold for little gifts of great love are worth more than gold.”
If I had an “I’d rather be...” bumper sticker on my car, it would say: Playing the guitar or piano than doing laundry or dusting.
A summer event, trip OR vacation I am most looking forward to: Our family reunion trip to Alaska —where my brother and his family live — next summer. I will get to see all of my family. Yeah, kick back time!
To nominate a mother for Meet A Gazette Mom, please contact Ashley Walker at ashley@ emporiagazette.com.