Happy Mother's Day from Adam Mockler

Mothers make the world go round!

I don’t know how my mom did it… but she has taught me so much along the way.

My mom had me when she was 15 years old, and rather than letting the world write her story for her, she broke through ceilings and wrote her own story.

Instead of letting others expectations or stereotypes define her future, she built one for herself and helped other women leaders thrive in the workplace. Now, my mom helps leaders globally realize their potential and become stronger versions of themselves, something that has inspired me from day one.

It meant long commutes to Chicago every day, constant sacrifice, and pushing past the limitations many quietly place on young mothers and women in leadership.

Watching my mom navigate those barriers shaped a lot of how I see the world. I saw how easily women could be underestimated or excluded through assumptions that seemed minuscule, but carried very real consequences.

A lot of my core beliefs came from hearing my mom talk about those experiences in real time. Stories about being passed over for important work trips or leadership opportunities because people had biases towards her, “Stefanie wouldn’t want to go on this work trip anyways, she has a son at home, let’s give it to Jeff instead.”

but wait, she has more ambition, intelligence, and capability than Jeff, why does he get a leg up like that?

Luckily, mom did not have to do any of this alone, she had my father (who was also a young parent, 17 years old when they had me). She also had an incredible family supporting her.

My mom and dad grew up alongside me, rather than simply raising me. Many of the core liberal tenets that guide me today were just casually explained to me by a mother who must have been no older than 23 at the time.

It’s almost impossible for me to comprehend as a 23 year old. I pour nearly all of my energy into my business, and I can’t imagine balancing that while also raising a child, getting a degree,

I would be nowhere near where I am today without her. And now, as the stakes in my own life continue to rise, there’s nobody I trust more to guide me through it. The same woman who broke barriers in her field and now trains leaders across the country is the person I get to call every night for advice as I build something of my own.

Anyways, we could write a book about this. Maybe we will.

This story is not just about my mom. I want to give a Happy Mother’s Day to the infinitely loving mothers who have fought uphill battles to give their children a better life. Your children are incredibly grateful for you. Even if life moves too fast for us to always express it properly, hear it from me, as a son: we love you more than you know.