66The nonprofit advocacy group American Mothers, Inc., was formed to honor the ideals of the Jarvis women and awarded its first national Mother of the Year honor in 1935. Since then, the group has expanded its efforts and membership, and now selects a national Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year from a pool of women chosen as Mother of the Year and Young Mother of the Year in their home states.

It's been a special year for American Mothers of Utah Valley, the local chapter of American Mothers, Inc. In 2009, American Mothers of Utah Valley member mothers Dixie Clifford and Danielle Kennington were chosen, respectively, Utah Mother of the Year and Utah Young Mother of the Year. In addition to those recognitions, chapter president Karmel Larson was named Mrs. Utah United States in a pageant held at the end of April.

The Daily Herald talked to all three women to find out some of their thoughts about motherhood and give our readers a Mother's Day portrait of three local women who have a mother's heart.

Dixie Clifford -- Utah Mother of the Year

• Age: 72

• Lives in: Orem

• Married to: Lincoln

• Hobbies: Music (sings, plays organ, piano and guitar), reading, writing, musical theater

• Recently read: "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

Dixie Clifford's own mother died when Clifford was just 20. "We had just gotten married and left Utah and gone to Cleveland," said Clifford, a mother of three adult children (a fourth child is deceased) and grandmother of seven grandchildren, ages 17 months-7 years, who grew up in the Cache Valley hamlet of Paradise, Utah, near Logan.

Clifford remembers the "horrendous shock" of losing her mother at such a young age, but remembers even more the lessons about motherhood that she learned from her mother's example. "She taught me the value of making decisions and working to have them happen."

One of the decisions that shaped Clifford was choosing to further her education after raising her children. Though she'd previously graduated from Utah State University (where she studied food and nutrition), Clifford went back to school in her 40s and got a second degree (in communications) from California State University, Fullerton.

Loving unconditionally is another area in which Clifford has tried to follow her mother's example. Although love has its perils: Clifford said without hesitation that the hardest thing she's had to do as a mother was to let go of her children as they became adults and began to lead their own lives. "I just loved so much those years that we spent together," she said. "When they left home I was hard put to find a purpose."

The family still gets together, but Clifford hasn't been sitting idly at home between reunions. She works with the Orem Heritage Commission and finds lots of other ways to volunteer. She and her husband, Lincoln, have served two church service missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Clifford said she thinks a mother's most important role is to teach her children, but said that teaching should be patient. "If you try to control or dictate," she said, "you often spoil the mix."

One of the Mother's Day memories she enjoys the most, Clifford said, comes from a time when her children were young. She and Lincoln had left them with a sitter for a Saturday night dinner before Mother's Day. While they were out, the kids and the sitter used colored Kleenex to make Mom a multi-hued Mother's Day lei. The next morning, her husband gave her an orchid.

Her son, who was 3 years old, asked her which one she was going to wear. "I said I'd wear them both," Clifford said. And she did.

Karmel Larson -- Mrs. Utah United States

Age: 32

Lives in: Provo

Married to: Brigham

Hobbies: Reading, gardening, square-foot gardening, movies

Recently read: "The Power of Positive Parenting" by Glenn Latham, "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine

Lots of people have a favorite historical figure. For Karmel Larson, it's Abigail Adams, wife of America's second president, John Adams. "We named my daughter after her," said Larson, a mother of four children (the youngest is 18 months and the oldest is 6) who grew up in Washington state. "She's a perfect blend of a woman who had her own accomplishments but was fiercely devoted to her family."

Larson, who graduated from Brigham Young University (where she studied social work) stays busy outside the home -- in addition to her involvement in American Mothers, she's the Utah County director of the Parents Television Council, works with Citizens for Families and is a board member of the Utah Coalition Against Pornography.

Encouraging people to speak up in favor of decency is important to Larson. It's actually, she said, the biggest reason that the she entered the Mrs. United States pageant. The annual event honors married women and, more importantly to Larson, asks them to address a moral or ethical position rather than preparing a talent.

The new Mrs. Utah United States is excited about having another forum to air her societal concerns. She's not about to let that detract, however, from what she said is her most important responsibility as a mother: spending quality time with each of her children.

For Larson, that's the hardest thing about being a mother. "It's something to be constantly vigilant about," she said, "protecting that time for the children."

One of the most important lessons that she learned from her own mother, Larson said, was to serve others, but also to remember that "service is never a sacrifice, but always an opportunity." As a child, Larson saw that principle in action when her great-grandmother came to live with the family.

Later, after becoming a mother to her own children, Larson did what her mother had done and brought her grandfather, afflicted by Alzheimer's disease, to live in her home for two years.

Larson said she thinks a mother's most important role is to teach her children, including participating in their education. "We should be actively educating our children," she said, "constantly reading to them."

One of Larson's favorite memories of Mother's Day is a recent one. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she and her husband worked with their children on memorizing the document "The Living Christ," a statement affirming belief in Jesus Christ issued by the LDS First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the faith's highest leadership bodies.

When the leadership of Larson's LDS ward, or congregation, found out what the kids had learned, the bishop, or leader, of the ward asked the two oldest Larson kids, ages 5 and 4 at the time, to recite "The Living Christ" during Sunday services on Mother's Day. "It was such an honor to see them up their quoting that document," Larson said. "It was almost a surreal moment."

Danielle Kennington -- Utah Young Mother of the Year

Age: 37

Lives in: Provo

Married to: Matthew

Hobbies: Singing, reading, teaching, volunteer storyteller at Orem Public Library

Recently read: "My Antonia" by Willa Cather

Don't get your mother a box of chocolates or an heirloom sewing table for Mother's Day. Not that those are bad gifts. Danielle Kennington, a mother of one child (4-year-old Ginny), just thinks that there are more meaningful ways to let Mom know that you care about her. "I don't think you need to buy fancy presents," she said. "Mothers just want you to spend time with them."

Kennington, who has degrees from Brigham Young University (in education) and Utah State University (special needs education), suggested a letter or phone call if your mother lives too far away to be visited. And you should feel free to share the love.

Kennington, who was born in Massachusetts, said that you can also use Mother's Day to recognize women who have had a "good mothering influence on you" -- on a recent Mother's Day, she did that herself, writing letters to two of the mother figures in her life.

Kennington's parents divorced when she was young, and she said that she mostly learned about mothering from the example of her stepmother. "I think she taught me that being a mother is enjoyable," Kennington said. "To enjoy the little moments and different stages of your child's life."

Since becoming a mother herself through adoption, Kennington said, the hardest thing about motherhood has been learning how to manage her time. "You have to give up your time and give up some of the things that you want to do right now to take care of your children," she said. "I love to read to my daughter, but sometimes I just want to read my novels. I've had to learn that during the day is her reading time."

Kennington said she thinks a mother's most important role is to teach her children, including being aware of what your children are picking up from your example. "It's just amazing to me," she said, "how much my daughter is always asking questions and remembering what I say."

One of her favorite Mother's Day experiences is something she wishes she could share with other young mothers. Being the Utah Young Mother of the Year, she said, has made her whole life feel like Mother's Day for a couple of months now. "I wish every mother could have that kind of affirmation," she said.

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