Moms Are the Real Superheroes

As another Mother’s Day passes, it will have been eleven years since Arlene June Mychajliw left this earthly home for the heavens above. No doubt she earned Sainthood raising seven crazy kids, me being the youngest. From a purely financial perspective we were dirt poor. As kids, we had no idea. We just assumed everyone didn’t have a phone or clothes dryer, went hungry, wore hand me downs, and used the oven as a heater in the winter whenever utilities were shut off. Necessity is the mother of all invention.

For what we lacked in material possessions, my mother made sure we felt like the richest kids in the world. She also instilled in us a purpose to excel no matter the circumstances, go to church every week, and never miss a day of school.

Arlene June Mychajliw Credit: South Shore Press

My mom made sure our lives were inherently better than the horrific circumstances of her abusive childhood. I’m blessed beyond belief to have lived the arc of the American Dream because she instilled in me the simple belief that I could. Arlene Mychajliw planted the seeds of professional success for me, the belief that I could achieve anything through God’s grace, hard work, and a second to none work ethic. After spending 20 years as a news anchor and investigative journalist, I served nine years as the Erie County Comptroller, and most recently the past year as spokesman for Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for President.

She’s been gone more than a decade, and I still sometimes go for the phone to call her about my day. “Hey Mom, it was incredible being on the debate stage and in the green room with Vivek for the first GOP presidential debate.” It still breaks my heart that I can’t call her anymore to share my life with her, like becoming the News Director of the South Shore Press.

So if your Mom is still with us, pick up that phone when you see her caller ID pop up. Don’t take a day or two to answer that text. How I wish I could have just one more phone call with my mother to tell her how much I love her and how I want so badly for her to see her grandkids.

Those grandchildren are in this world thanks to the most amazing wife on earth: Ashley Mychajliw. No idea why she married me. No question I won the spouse lottery out of the two of us. I wouldn’t be surprised if our great grandparents back in Ukraine traded some goats and cow’s milk and Ashley was forced to marry me.

Working on a Presidential campaign meant many nights on the road for me, and even more for Ashley being home alone with three young kids, ages six, four, and two. She managed our family, kids, the home, and a full time job as a social worker in education while I spent countless days on the national campaign trail.

Now my days and nights are spent leading the editorial team of the South Shore Press. It is a blessing and privilege to work in journalism again, working with seasoned professionals producing the best community news outlet in Suffolk County.

It’s also an honor to be home a lot more to be with Ashley, Maksym Roman, Emeryk Francis, and Victoria Anna. There’s also lots of long nights producing our website (SouthShorePress.com), and updating our Twitter page (@SSPNewsroom) and Facebook page. Ashley knows how much I love being a part of this team at the South Shore Press. I hope my Mom does as well.

So on behalf of the editorial staff at the South Shore Press, I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day of breakfast in bed, being showered with flowers, and pampered all day.