Introducing the KCMB Mother of the Year

sabato-1Maggie Sabato, Kansas City Moms Blog’s Mother of the Year, is a testament to the fact that a mother’s job never ends.

She raised her two daughters – Stephanie and Cecily – on her own after choosing to remove herself from her marriage. Maggie, 85, can tell many stories about the challenges of being a single mom, making ends meet working at Commerce Bank while still giving her daughters memories of the simple joys of life.

In those early years, they shopped at the now-defunct Atlantic Spartan discount store, hoping for good sales, while on their way to pick up the week’s groceries. Now, the three women spend their days celebrating holidays, posing for pictures with the bunnies on the Country Club Plaza, browsing art galleries, shopping for discount jewelry and traveling when possible to Maggie’s favorite beach in Florida. She still attends her busy daughters’ activities.

Looking back, though, Maggie acknowledges that motherhood is not an easy job – especially when children are young.

“You have your good days and your bad days,” she says. “My advice for moms, especially these days, is there should be a balance. They need to do chores around the house – not be whining and always on the computer and never outside. And they need respect for older people like me!

“Mothers just need to be themselves, and enjoy time with their kids, too.”

Maggie’s daughter Stephanie, who wrote the letter nominating her mother, said she recognizes that although her mother is older than some of the other nominees, she has a lot to teach young mothers about doing what’s best for your children – no matter the struggle ahead.

“My mother is a pioneer in a lot of ways,” Stephanie says. “She took a bold step to move away from a bad situation in a day when women didn’t do that. I applaud her for that – it took a lot of courage.”

Stephanie says the older she gets, the more she appreciates her mother.

“I realize mom is usually right,” she says. “When moms are discouraged, they should remember that when you get old enough and get perspective, you realize mom has your best interest at heart.”

When Maggie, who doesn’t currently own a computer, got the call from her daughter telling her she was Kansas City’s Mother of the Year, she said she was surprised.

“I’ve been laughing all day!”

As we interviewed her for this post Wednesday afternoon, she said she was resting and had plans to get her “beauty sleep” before appearing on Fox 4’s Morning Show yesterday morning where she was able to share more of her story of motherhood. Watch Maggie’s interview here:

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As our winner, Maggie will enjoy pampering courtesy of Kansas City businesses who appreciate the work moms do, including: Southmoreland on the Plaza, Buca di Beppo, The Parlor: Beauty Bar and Ambiance on the Water.

Our second place winner is Sheila Jones who will receive a spa package from Sunlight Day Spa and dinner at Talk of the Town Grill and Bar. In third place was Sarah Fields who will be pampered at The Salon.

Thank you to ALL of our nominees for the sacrificial love they give every day for their children and families. It’s been a joy to share your stories with our readers. Happy Mother’s Day!

Sarah McGinnity
Sarah grew up in Manhattan, Kansas (Go Cats!), she moved to Minnesota where she met her husband, Shea. Realizing how much she hated snow in May, she convinced him to move to Kansas City in 2010. Together they have lived in Midtown, Waldo, the Plaza, and now Overland Park. Sarah is mom to 10-year-old, Henry, 7-year-old Clark and 5-year-old Lucy. She has her master’s in urban administration and is passionate about making Kansas City a more equitable and supportive community. In between the crazy, she likes to drink coffee, run, hike, travel as much as possible, and experience all things Kansas City!