Last night I attended my first board meeting for a nonprofit organization that I will be supporting. As part of our introduction, it was asked we provide who our hero is…great answers were provided with Amelia Earhart and the like. But, for me, it’s not one of those women who get all of the attention, but probably should have.

My mom is my hero. When I think about the trailblazers in the world, Carol Underhill probably isn’t the top of most lists, but I’d like to offer that she is at the tippy top of mine. Carol was a wife, mom, grandmother, aunt, niece to many. Those were her top treasured roles, but she also served our church community and was the owner of Corner Ceramics.

That little ceramic shop was her treasured business…I remember the first Christmas she gave us a check from her earnings. That’s right, instead of reinvesting in the business or taking her and dad on a vacation, she distributed those monies beaming with pride. And, she had every right too.

As women, we need to be celebrating more of the Carol Underhill’s of the world and the impact they are making for our future. Raising empowered, honest, hardworking individuals is being a trailblazer …doing that all while supporting the community and being an entrepreneur … heck, yeah!!

Using our voices to build strong women and allies is something that should be celebrated beginning with our mom’s.

So, next time you are thinking about who your hero is, look at where your foundation began. Maybe it isn’t your mom…maybe it’s a grandmother, aunt or alike…but, it doesn’t always have to be those that have dawned our televisions. Instead, it can be those that sat next to us as we grew and became the people we are today.

So, to all of you mom’s out there hustling, moving, shaking and endlessly exhausted, know that you are my hero’s too…because without the support of one another…there’s no way we can live a life with an unapologetic zeal and empowerment.

Carol – we love and miss you …