May 9, 2002

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• Out and About: How I got on top of old smoking

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• Editor's Pick: A first time for everything
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• People's Choice: Children's Center picks gifts Mom wants

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Children’s Center picks gifts mom wants

They changed your diapers, bathed you, bought your favorite cereal, packed your lunch, drove you to soccer practice, fed you dinner and kissed you goodnight. Now it’s time to return the love.

We asked the moms at Penn Children’s Center, who were surrounded by cute-yet-demanding toddlers, what they’d like for Mother’s Day. Some had thoughts of exotic vacations, others wanted the traditional flowers, and (surprise to us) there was even one who said all she wanted was some quality time with her babies (awww). Here at the Current, we’re partial to handmade cards with original poems and family brunches

So before you head empty-handed to mom’s house on May 12, read what these deserving mothers had to say. You might even be inspired with your own gift-giving ideas.

RENEE DOWNING
Office assistant
“I would not want anything expensive. I would want something sentimental that took some time, maybe even something crafty.”

JEN COLLINS
Administrative assistant
“I want flowers.”

CONNIE LYDON
Toddler teacher
“I would like a long trip to Hawaii.”

MAX BAKER
Toddler teacher
“I want my mother to have a long vacation, like a month away.”

SANDY JOHNSON
Assistant toddler teacher
“I would like some jewelry. A bracelet would be very nice.”

DIANE COLEMAN
Assistant teacher
“A vacation sounds really good. I would like to go to Hawaii or something like that.”

DENISE BROOKS
Assistant teacher
“I would like a day of pampering. I want to go to a spa where you don’t have to worry about anything or anyone, and everybody would be pampering you.”

DAWN KLEMASH
Teacher
“I would like a day off. I would not want to do anything but relax.”

GINGER GRIES
Pre-school teacher
“Peace and quiet sounds good. I am not a mom but I am a teacher. So it is like I’m a mom to 20 kids all day long. I would also like somebody to cook for me. The meal would have to be something Italian with pasta.”

NATALIE SUBEH
Executive director
“I would want to have an enjoyable day with my children and not have to worry about anything else. I’d also like every other mother to have the same thing.”

RITA KELLY
Assistant toddler teacher
“I would want a vacation from everything. I’d like to go to Disney World.”

—Malaina Freedman