By Terra Avilla
Here in Lassen County, we’ve got something special when it comes to our moms. You know that saying, “get yourself friends that love your kids like their own”? Well, that’s not just a cute phrase around here – it’s literally how we live.
Our community is blessed with an incredible group of mothers who take this idea to heart, creating support that goes way beyond just their own families.
I know them, and so do you. These moms are fierce, and I mean fierce in the best way possible.
They show up not just for their own little ones, but for all the kids in our county. It’s really something to see, and it speaks volumes about how tightly knit our community is. Raising kids is truly a team effort, where every child is treasured, and every mother has a whole squad behind her.
You see it everywhere, moms helping each other out during tough times, sharing tips and resources, putting together fun events for all the families, and fighting tooth and nail for better services for our kids.
Take Nikki Hahn, for example. There I was at Lassen Hoops, trying to keep an eye on my little Pearl Girl as she was bebopping in and out of the gym.
You know how it is with kids – one second, they’re right beside you, the next they’ve vanished into thin air. I must’ve looked pretty frazzled, scanning the gym like a meerkat on high alert.
That’s when Nikki caught my eye from across the court. With a warm smile, she called out, “She’s good, I just saw her!” And just like that, I could breathe easily again.
It wasn’t just the words, but the way Nikki said it – like it was the most natural thing in the world to keep tabs on someone else’s kid.
It’s Shannon’s birthday, a day when she could be doing anything she wants, maybe sleeping in or treating herself to something special. But what does she do? She shows up a whole three hours early to watch and cheer on Peach in her championship game.
Melyssah Rios was there too, and of course always goes out her way to greet my kids so warmly.
Let’s talk about Heather and Kelly, the unsung heroes of Beast of Broadway. These two moms are the epitome of patience and dedication, spending hours upon hours in the basement with a gaggle of little performers, making sure they’re ready for their big moment in the spotlight.
They’re juggling more roles than the kids are playing on stage – part director, part nurse, part tutor and full-time cheerleader.
Between Katy Claiborn capturing the most adorable shots of Pearl Girl. (I swear, every time I see a picture Katy’s taken, it’s like she’s managed to bottle up a little piece of my daughter’s spirit in a snapshot), to sweet Jen Ormachea always offering to give Pearl a ride home for me, to Monica Wright helping corral June Bug in the bleachers, I am so blessed be all these women who step up for kiddos in our community.
And of course, the list could go on and on, and on, and obviously it’s not just my kids that receive this love. It’s this magic in our community, that makes our town so special and reminds us why we love calling this place home.
Our Lassen County moms? They’re the real deal, and we wouldn’t have it any other way, and they are one of the reasons I love where we live.
