This year marks the 20th Mother’s Day since I lost my daughter Alisa Joy. The best gift a mother can have is to be with her children on this special day. In the early years after her death, I struggled with her absence, even as I was loved by my remaining family. But gradually, the realization came to me that I was still her mother and no one could take that from me. I still miss her, but she is forever in my heart. She is, and will always be my Joy.
Life is like an onion and we’re always peeling back a new layer. One of Alisa’s close friends, Leana, called me on this year’s anniversary of her death just last month. Like Alisa would be, she is now a thirty-five and has a baby of her own. While it is bittersweet because I miss the grandchildren that Alisa might have given me, I treasure that her friends still share their lives and families with me. In this case, Leana shared that how as a new mother she had gained perspective on how Alisa’s loss had affected me. Somehow this cycle of life comforts me because even though I can’t touch her, Alisa is still part of that cycle and part of me.
For mothers whose child has been killed by a drunk driver, Mother’s Day can be especially painful. If we have other children, it is a day filled with bittersweet emotions. The gratitude we feel for the beautiful gift of sharing life with our surviving children is joyful. At the same time, the longing for our deceased child is an agony that constantly tugs at our hearts. My friends who have no surviving children tell me they feel a deep emptiness on Mother’s Day.
Yet, love never dies. All of us are grateful for the precious time we were given with our children who have died. I send wishes to every mother for a day filled with warm memories, special moments and peaceful joys. Love lives forever.
Mother and union bus driver Sandra Frye delivers a powerful Mother's Day message against drunk driving in this public service announcement by Mother's Against Drunk Driving and the the Amalgamated Transit Union.
Mother’s Day is a very important holiday at MADD, since we were founded by a mother who lost her daughter to drunk driving. But at MADD, a Mother can be a father, daughter, brother, uncle, or anyone else who wants to stand against drunk driving. We like to say, “Some of the best Mothers are fathers.”
It’s a mothers job to protect us, and that’s exactly what all of you—no matter your gender—are doing, protecting your loved ones from drunk driving and underage drinking. So this Mother’s Day, send a MADD ecard to all of the Mothers in your life who are taking a stand against drunk driving and underage drinking.
If you are struggling with grief this Mother's Day, please know MADD is here for you. Our 24/7 support line is available at no charge at 877.MADD.HELP (632.3435). You can also read our Holiday Grief Tips to find suggestions for people experiencing bereavement and/or injury for coping during a holiday .
MADD wishes all of our Mothers a very happy Mother’s Day.
Provided by Nationwide Insurance® the national presenting sponsor of the Power of Parents program. Nationwide also offers exclusive discounts to MADD supporters, learn more.
For many people, Memorial Day is a time to celebrate freedom, in more ways than one. We salute the U.S. veterans who sacrificed to preserve and protect us. And many of us celebrate freedom of the road on this holiday.
The unofficial kick-off for summer, Memorial Day weekend is one of the heaviest for traffic, which translates into more accidents. More than 470 people were killed during Memorial Day weekend in 2009, the most recent year for which such data is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Protect your family with these safe driving tips from the NHTSA:
Avoid alcohol. Alcohol and driving is always a bad mix. Every day, nearly 30 people in the U.S. die in a motor-vehicle crash involving an alcohol-impaired driver. If you have teen drivers, learn how to talk to them about alcohol.
Keep your tires properly inflated. If Memorial Day weekend means a road trip for you and the gang, make sure your tires are ready to endure the marathon. A hot traveling surface can take its toll.
Check your windshield. Make sure your view is clear and your wipers are in good shape. A sudden summer storm will hinder visibility more rapidly if there’s a coat of grime or dust on the windshield.
Never leave kids unattended. Don’t leave your children in the car, even if you’re just running into the store for sunscreen. Temperatures inside an automobile can increase to deadly levels quickly.
Rest up. To stay alert on your trip, get plenty of rest before you leave. Allow plenty of time to get to your destination to avoid aggravation, and keep yourself hydrated by bringing water with you.
Daniel Riemann was a 25-year-old outgoing, “people-person” with an amazing laugh. Daniel had recently graduated from Kansas University and was just promoted to manager of the retail store where he worked. He had his whole life ahead of him with a very promising future.
After hanging out at a friend’s house after work, Daniel was walking in a crosswalk in the Kansas City town square, when he was struck by a drunk driver. The driver fled the scene, leaving Daniel helpless. Several hours passed before anyone found him or called an ambulance, and when they arrived on the scene Daniel was already dead. This happened early in the morning on Sunday, May, 11, 2008—Mother’s Day.
The Riemanns had an annual Mother’s Day tradition; the family would get together for lunch at Red Lobster. Since Daniel wasn’t sure if he would be able to make the Mother’s Day lunch that year because of work, he gave his grandmother the Mother’s Day card he wrote for his mother to give her at lunch. By the time she opened it, Daniel was gone.
While the Riemanns were at their Mother’s Day lunch, police were still trying to determine Daniel’s identification. He had left his wallet and I.D. in his car. His family thought he was at work, so the fact that he didn’t show up for lunch was not surprising; there was no reason to be alarmed or to start looking for him. They were notified later that afternoon that their beloved son and brother had died after being struck by an underage drunk driver leaving a graduation party.
Daniel was the oldest of four siblings, but was also very close to his extended family. Family and friends were very important to Daniel, and at his memorial services friends from all over the world came to celebrate his life by telling funny stories and memories of their friend.
Now Mother’s Day has a very different meaning for Kelly Riemann, Daniel’s mother. Each year she does something to honor her son, like bracelets or bumper stickers, for everyone who knew and loved Daniel.
This Mother’s Day, we honor Kelly and Daniel Riemann, as well as all others who lost a mother or a child to drunk driving or underage drinking.
Daniel Riemann was a 25-year-old outgoing, “people-person” with an amazing laugh. Daniel had recently graduated from Kansas University and was just promoted to manager of the retail store where he worked. He had his whole life ahead of him with a very promising future.
Daniel was the oldest of four siblings, but was also very close to his extended family. Family and friends were very important to Daniel, and at his memorial services friends from all over the world came to celebrate his life by telling funny stories and memories of their friend.