Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

Mother of the Year Donna Harriott is flanked by second runner-up Mariann Robinson (left) and first runner-up Marjorie Johnson. - photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

Donna Harriott had an ordinary day that led to an extraordinary experience. While walking in Cross Roads in March, a car stopped by her feet. The woman inside told her, "You're looking nice, I like the way you walk, you walk with confidence." The woman was Blossom Evans, founder of the Jamaica Mother of the Year Competition.

They exchanged numbers and Harriott was invited to a meeting that Thursday. However, with her full schedule, she could not make it. A passionate phone call from Evans saw her at the next meeting. "I liked what I saw," Harriott said. "There was a genuineness about the women. They were comfortable with themselves; we had fun and that grabbed me instantly. Every Thursday after work, I would jump in a cab and head to rehearsals."

Harriott, a single mother of two who teaches drama at St. Hugh's High School and who also works with inner-city youth in Alman Town through Sistren Theatre Collective said, "It was something different and new which showed me that women are OK."

COMPETITION

Harriott said that immediately they began telling them what they should and should not do. "They look at your discipline, how you approach persons. I enjoyed working with the women. You know sometimes there is the perception that we can't work with women, but there was no jealousy, and even if there was, it was so insignificant, you didn't pay any attention to it. No backbiting - we were able to share; we were like sisters."

The women were also judged on their intelligence, awareness of motherhood, parenting, how the school system runs and the importance of mothers to society. "You have to dig into your experience," she noted. Her final question on the night of coronation dealt with what measures she would put in place to assist fathers to understand their role in the home. "I was nervous. It was a process and the final night was the finished product."

Harriott noted that she has benefited a lot from being in the competition. "I learnt more about me; my concentration, my personality and that I can cope under pressure."

She noted that the judges were "motherly women of class who are down to earth; it feels like a family." She noted that from interacting with these women she realised that as a single mother she was not alone.

WOMEN'S IMPORTANCE

Mother of two and dramatic arts teacher at St. Hugh's High School, Donna Harriott, is the 2007 Mother of the Year. She was crowned last Sunday at the 25th anniversary of Jamaica Mother of the Year held at the Pegasus hotel.

From her personal experience, Harriott knows the importance of mothers. "I wasn't raised with a mother or father but I had the privilege of growing with a male and female. I realised the powerful role of women in our society. I understood how important motherhood is and how powerful it is to be able to manage our time.

"Women have so much to share. It was amazing how the mothers handled their time being in a competition like this and have time for their other duties."

CHILDREN'S SUPPORT

Harriott's oldest child, Kimberly, is in her second year at Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts (EMCVPA) and her son Cruise is a third form student at St. George's College. "They said, mummy go for it. They tell me I'm the best mother in the world. It's difficult as a single mother but they have so much respect and love for me. They were so proud when I won."

Harriott is currently completing her Bachelor's degree in Drama Education at EMCVPA. She has also just completed her second anthology of poems: Life's thorns and Roses. Her first anthology, Spiritual Colours of Love, was published in 2006. In the future she hopes to work on a self-esteem book. "I'm a very spiritual person and I pray a lot. I love people and if you put yourself as a dot you will always be a little dot. The more you give of yourself to people, the more you get from society".

And speaking of giving of your self, she has set some personal goals to give of herself. She hopes to focus on parenting and community building, the challenges of parenting against the force of technology and building self-esteem of parents and the good image of the community.

'I learnt more about me, my concentration, my personality and that I can cope under pressure.'