May 6, 2004

Street Talk by Shari Kaplan

What does your family do to celebrate Mother’s Day?
(Asked at Parma Park)


“When I lived in China, Mother’s Day wasn’t celebrated. Although I think it may be these days. Western holidays are being celebrated more often, especially among the young people. Usually now my husband gets me some kind of gift. And my children usually draw me pictures or do a project in school for Mother’s Day. I think we’ll be going out for dinner this year, too.”

Yan Feng, 35 (with son Daniel)
Almaden Valley
Software engineer


“On Mother’s Day, I don’t cook or clean, and I always get flowers from my husband. Sometimes we go out to brunch, but we usually reserve that for if we go out with my mother-in-law. When my older kids were younger, I’d get school project gifts from them. I still have a lot of those! Now that the kids are older, I get flowers and cards from them.”

Catherine Schleimer, 43
(with son Jacob)
Walnut Creek
Homemaker


“My husband and I call our moms in the Midwest on Mother’s Day, but we don’t often get to see them. On Mother’s Day, we usually go out to eat for brunch or lunch, and then we go out somewhere fun with our kids, like to a park, or hiking, or the beach.”

Kate Bartenhagen, 39
Almaden Valley
Project manager


“My kids come over to our house for dinner on Mother’s Day, and they bring their kids. I enjoy seeing all the grandchildren. I usually cook the dinner. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, so I might as well! I’ve never gone out for Mother’s Day; the restaurants are way too crowded!”

Kay Kazmierczak, 66
Almaden Valley
Retired


“My mom has three daughters, so we like to do a girls’ day out with her for Mother’s Day. We might do breakfast in bed for her, and then we go out and get pedicures. And then later we all go out together, with my dad, for dinner.”

Jessica Petra, 15
Almaden Valley
High school student


“I spend Mother’s Day with my brother, his wife and their three kids, and my two kids. We go to the beach, usually Rio Del Mar or Capitola, and have fun with the kids. Then we all go out for dinner down in that area. My brother always gets me and my sister-in-law something for Mother’s Day, and I get my sister-in-law something as well.”

Pamela Wilson, 39 (with sons Sloan Miguel and Hardy James)
Blossom Valley
Clinical research