Editor’s Note: And the mother of the year is (cue drum roll) — every mom of course. But a few special mothers were singled out for extra recognition last weekend when winners were announced at the annual Mom of the Year essay contest, sponsored by the Harbor View Hotel and Rosewater Market and Take Away. The winners were honored at a Mother’s Day Brunch Sunday at the Harbor View. The three winning essays follow.

My Best Friend
By Heather Kirwin 

It’s heard almost anywhere that, “A diamond is a girl’s best friend.” But in reality that is rarely the case. My mother beats diamonds by far. She’s been there for every up and down and stuck by me when all I told her was to leave me alone. Teen mood swings can be rough. I could never have asked for a more faithful and passionate friend.

My mom, Mindy Kirwin, is the best mom because she doesn’t just love, care for, and protect me, but she is also the only person who has been there for me every difficult and every easy part of my life. My mom protects me, cares for me, and loves me unconditionally. My mom has always been there for me whether it was changing my diapers, entertaining me, and helping me with anything slightly considered problematic. I know my mom has always tried her hardest to be there for me and get me to be open to new opportunities.

I’ve always had stage fright, constantly nervous for school presentations or anything that had to do with public speaking. My mom helped me recently to get over that fear. To be courageous. To be brave. With perfect timing, the school held auditions for The Little Mermaid. My mom decided it was time for me to step out of my comfort zone and persuaded me to audition. I got the role of Flounder! Flash forward to opening night and how I was really excited but also scared out of my mind! My mom gave me a pep talk in the car on our way to the play. “You will be great,” she told me without hesitation. “Don’t worry about forgetting your lines or dance steps, just have as much fun as you can! And remember be as dramatic as you can!” I will never forget that night. I had about as much fun as a person on stage can have and it was all thanks to my mom for making me try new things.

Most people as they grow older, forget about the tiny problems of being a teenage girl.

For example, a dramatic change in friendships and who likes who and which homework did I forget to do and those painful aches in our stomachs that remind us monthly that we are female. Not only does my mother have experience with all of those but she also has the greatest advice. For my seventh grade year, I decided to move to Mississippi to spend a year with my dad and sister. I had to start all over at a new school. I didn’t know any teachers or any people I would call “classmates” or most importantly which bus to take back home. The night before the first day of school I called my mom and asked for her advice. My mom told me to be brave. Be open to meeting new people. Be nice to everyone and form an opinion later. Ask many questions. School was definitely rough. There were many more kids at my new school than the amount I had at the Edgartown School. But I listened to my mother and introduced myself to plenty of people and my new teachers. I instantly made new friends and solved my problem with the bus situation. My mother’s advice guided me through starting a new school.

What is the definition of a best friend? According to YourDictionary.com, a best friend is: “A person who you value above other friends in your life, someone you have fun with, someone you trust and someone in whom you confide.”

The first person that comes to my mind, when I read that definition, is my mother, Mindy. They say, “A diamond is a girl’s best friend.” But my best friend is worth more than a diamond. My mother is my best friend and she is most definitely on the list of top 10 greatest moms. I love you, mom.

Heather Kirwin is an eighth grade student at the Edgartown School.

Big Smile
By Graysen I. Kirk-Linn

My mom is wonderful and amazing in so many ways. One thing she does is she gives; she spends and gives so much money to us. My mom Luci grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Keene, N.H. when she was 18, then a couple years ago we moved here.     My mother works for an amazing chiropractor named Nancy Berger. She loves to find sea glass and run on the beach. When she’s happy she smiles from ear to ear with a set of pearly white teeth showing and her cheeks are rosy red with love in her eyes.     When she laughs it’s like no other laugh I’ve ever heard before. She taught me how to walk, talk, memorize my ABCs, and was gentle, sweet, kind and loving. She has done so much for me and I’ve never had the opportunity to repay her. Even though she can be a little difficult sometimes, she has devoted her life to me. Thanks for everything mom also thanks for giving me the best childhood I could ever ask for.  I love you, Mommy.

Graysen I. Kirk-Linn is a fourth grade student at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School.

Lambs and Honey Bees
By Runar Finn Robinson

My mom, Betsy, is the best because she comforts me when I am sick and makes me chamomile tea. She is a really good cook and makes a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner for my family every day. In the summertime she cooks for a lot of people.

She finds clothes for me at the Dumptique instead of buying them. She sews white clothes for me in the summertime to stay cool and they are made out of bed sheets.

Before bedtime she reads to me. She gets up early in the morning and goes into the kitchen where it is warm and makes me breakfast. My mom is always smiling and she loves lambs and honey bees.

Runar Finn Robinson is a second grade student at the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School.