MIKE HADLEY / Scroll
Fillmore plans for Mothers’ Weekend with Krystal Ashcroft, a junior from Farmington, N.M.

One woman leads AWS and committee in preparations for Mothers’ Weekend

by Elisabeth Walker WAL03024@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Mothers’ Weekend is a fun-filled time, where students have the chance to bond with mothers by participating in activities together. The weekend has been an event at this university for so long that its history has become hard to trace. In the beginning, it is know that it was only for girls and lasted for a week.

However, Mothers’ Weekend has now evolved to last for a weekend, is now for both males and females on campus and attracts more than just the mothers of students.

“Some alumnae come back for [Mothers’ Weekend], even though they don’t go to school here anymore and don’t have any children attending,” Taryn Martin, executive committee member of Activities for Women Students (AWS) and a junior from San Diego, Calif., said.

Kris Fillmore, the Enrichment Activities Manager of Social Activities, oversees the work of the AWS and Mothers’ Weekend.

“Many of the students of the committee are freshmen and have never experienced a Mothers’ Weekend before,” Fillmore said. “My job is to help them get a vision and understanding of what we’re trying to accomplish, help provide training and resources for them and then to stand back and let them put it together.”

Fillmore enjoys watching the results of the committee’s hard work and knows the sacrifices made are worth it in the end.

“By far, the most rewarding part is to see the growth in the students who put this event on,” Fillmore said. “Another reward is to see the event come to fruition and watch mothers and students together as they sit in a workshop or concert with their arms around each other. Anything to strengthen those relationships is certainly rewarding.”

For just one weekend, a lot of effort and work is put into the production of this event. “We started thinking of a theme for it in November,” Janelle Johnson, AWS member and a sophomore from Dayton, Idaho, said.

“Mothers’ Weekend is probably the largest event we hold on campus each year and yet is put on entirely by a student committee with only one adult adviser. I think that is remarkable,” Fillmore said.

Being the only adviser on a committee can be stressful, yet Fillmore is glad to be able to work with the students. She uses a bit of humor to help keep her sanity,

“I think Mothers’ Weekend takes ten years off my life every year we do this, so I should be dead by now,” Fillmore said.

“However, as an adviser, I try to help the students on the council understand that even though they may sacrifice a little of their weekend and time with their own mothers, it is really a great privilege to serve and provide this wonderful time for other students and mothers to be together. If they look at it that way they won’t see it as a sacrifice at all and will find great joy in seeing the results of their hard work. I want them to know that even though they do work hard, this event is not about them but those they serve,” she said.

Martin’s committee is in charge of the Mother/Daughter, Mother/Son look-alike contest, but she hopes that the entire weekend will be a success.

“I wish to see that everyone will be fed, not only physically ... but that they will be fed spiritually, by attending work shops, retreats, entertainment, plays and concerts, and emotionally, by increasing the bond with their parent,” Martin said.

For Martin being a part of AWS has given her invaluable experiences and new friendships. “I have gained so many different leadership skills during my time with AWS. However, with all that I have learned, it is the new friendships created while working together to accomplish a common goal that is the most rewarding,” Martin said.

Martin has put a lot of work and time into planning for this momentous event, yet she knows in the end all her hard work will pay off.

“Mothers’ Weekend is such a huge responsibility that it can be very intimidating. However, working as a group and dividing the load it becomes less daunting,” Martin said.

“The main sacrifice that makes it go so smoothly is putting in not just time but quality time. The more you work and put in real effort the more it shows in the event. Work and fun is always a factor but so is careful consideration, thoughts and emotions,” she said.

Johnson’s committee coordinates the Woman of the Year selection and the Mother/Daughter Buffet. She knows how important the roll of a mother is in students’ lives.

“My main objective for this Mothers’ Weekend is to provide students with an opportunity to take time out of their busy lives to bond with their mothers, express appreciation to those women who mean so much to us in our lives” Johnson said.

Planning for this event has kept Johnson extremely busy.

“When we first began to plan for Mothers’ Weekend we were told that we would have to make sacrifices to help this event come together. Sort of like dinner. Your moms (Compare to the AWS organization) work and prepare for hours to make the meal” Johnson said. “Finally after all that preparation, it only takes a few minutes to demolish the meal that took so long to make. All the while she is making sure that every one else is provided for before she eats. However, we want to do this for the students and their mothers despite any sacrifices we might have to make” Johnson said.

Mothers give needed support and encouragement that is hard to get anywhere else.

For those whose moms aren’t able to attend take time to contact them and express appreciation for them, Johnson said.

Mothers’ Weekend seems to be a win-win situation for those who plan and for those who attend. Those who plan the event gain knowledge and experience that would be hard to obtain any other way. Those who take part reap the benefit of being able to bond with their mothers as they attend different events, and the whole campus is benefited the spirit only a mother can bring.