West Hartford Mother's Day Superstar: Amy Jaffe Barzach

We asked our readers to send us their amazing mom stories for Mother’s Day and received some very special ones. Do you think your mom is the best? Details on how to nominate her to be Patch’s “Mother’s Day Superstar” are below.

Mother’s name: Amy Jaffe Barzach

Name and relationship to the nominee: Alyssa Barzach, daughter

Why does she rock? My mom is the most hardworking and compassionate person that I know. In 1996 she co—founded Jonathan’s Dream. Jonathan’s Dream was amongst the nation’s first accessible playgrounds designed for children of all abilities. My mom works tirelessly to help others and ensure that everyone feel included—her family and beyond. Since then, Jonathan’s Dream has become one of the town’s most beloved places to go.

Currently, my mom is working on the team to rebuild Jonathan’s Dream, in addition to her full time job at the University of Hartford. At the University of Hartford, my mom serves as the director of the Women’s Education and Leadership Fund. When I visited my mom at work, I got to see firsthand the impact that she has made on first year students’ lives by giving them the confidence and support they need to be strong leaders. Adding to her professional accomplishments, my mom is kind, caring, compassionate and without a doubt the most optimistic and positive person.

My mom is constantly reminding me to put my best foot forward, to take the high road, to put myself in other people’s shoes, to give others the benefit of the doubt and to always believe in myself. My mom leads by example and is my biggest role model. I am a college student now attending the University of Connecticut. At the beginning of the semester I fractured my arm sledding with my friends. A few days after the fracture when I was in a sling and the temperatures were below zero, my coat did not zip over my sling and I couldn’t put my shoes on without assistance of a friend. As I was walking to class one day, I slipped, I called my mom noticeably upset. She immediately cancelled all of her meetings for the afternoon, drove up to Storrs, took me out to lunch and bought me a bigger coat and easy to slide on snow boots. That is only one of the many times that my mom has put me before herself. She is the most amazing human being that I know and I love her so much. My brothers, Daniel and Michael, my dad, Peter, and my little toy poodle, Prince, are all extraordinarily lucky to have my mom, Amy Barzach, in our lives.

Why does she deserve the spotlight? My mom deserves to be in the spotlight because often times she is the unsung hero. She works very hard and truly changes people’s lives but would rather not receive recognition for it. My mom always puts me and my family before herself so I think she deserves some recognition for being such an amazing person.

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Think your mom rocks? We want to hear from you! Send us your amazing mom stories and we’ll share the best ones with our readers. Nominate your Mother’s Day Superstar by answering the following questions and she could be featured!

1. Mother’s name and town she lives in.
   
2. Your name and relationship to the nominee.
   
3. Why does your mom rock? Details are a good thing!

Please answer the questions and email your answers, along with a photo all in one email, to: [email protected] and give your mom the recognition she deserves!