Moms in the neighborhood talk about family, work and rest

Mother’s Day is that special day when we all remember, celebrate and honor one of the people dearest to us. In New York, neighborhoods like Sunset Park dress up for the occasion with flowers and decorations in stores, gifts, chocolates, and restaurants paying special attention to their menus so all mothers can feel at home, but without a plate to clean.

Along with planned neighborhood activities, such as the Cinco De Mayo & Mother’s Day Celebration at Brooklyn Army Terminal, West Lot and Ferry Plaza Park (140 58th St.), on Sunday, May 10, from 2 to 8 p.m., with live music, dance and activities for the whole family, or family picnics in Sunset Park, the Sunset Post spoke with Sunset Park mothers to learn how they feel, what they think and how they plan to celebrate this day, their day, in order to feel special.

Lily is originally from Ecuador, and although she has lived in New York for more than 10 years, first in Queens and now in Sunset Park, she says she misses many aspects of her country, especially her mother and grandmother, “who have shaped the mother I am now,” she said.

Her mother has visited several times, but the current situation in the country has prevented a recent visit because of visa complications. “What I want most is to be with my family and be at peace and calm, and I have found that in this neighborhood,” Lily said.

Lily works in real estate, and although she is currently taking a break until her daughter turns 3, she emphasizes the effort working mothers make and what it means to be responsible for a household.

If anyone knows how to be a mother and run a business, it is Marta. A mother of two 4-year-old girls, her work as a photographer brought her to New York from Pennsylvania 12 years ago.

“It is overwhelming and rewarding at the same time,” Marta said with a smile. “It is being exhausted but happy.”

Over these years, she has balanced motherhood and photography with other small jobs as a chef in catering, something she is truly passionate about. “In this neighborhood I have learned a lot from other cultures thanks to the diversity here,” Marta said. “I think that is also something I am passionate about.”

Although she has found a home in Sunset Park, she told us she would love to see greater awareness among neighbors when it comes to trash, for example, or shared activities in the neighborhood.

Ilania, a 32-year-old mother, loves that there are so many schools and extracurricular options in the neighborhood. Her baby is still very young, but she says the range of choices in Sunset Park already stands out.

She has lived in Sunset Park for a decade, and although she works in Manhattan, the commute has become one of the things she appreciates most.

“What I like most is coming home on the train,” Ilania said. “That is the advantage of our N train.”

As for how she sees herself celebrating Mother’s Day, she said: “A gathering of mothers with friends and, if possible, not too much cooking.”

Rosa works at a coffee and aguas frescas stand on 36th Street and Fourth Avenue. For her, working in the neighborhood is more than a choice.

“My children live here,” Rosa said. “But also, here it is calm. The police do not chase me all day.”

Rosa came from Mexico 25 years ago and lives in Queens. Her children were born in New York, and now that they are adults, they have become her guardian angels.

“In this country, people work a lot,” Rosa said. “If you do not work one day, it affects your finances.”

Although she says she feels more unsafe because of the persecution and the government, she still prefers Sunset Park for work. For Mother’s Day, she wants a peaceful day and, in her words, “to rest more than to think about paying bills.”