AT PALE PINK AND sage green tables, girls of all ages sat with their mothers drinking lemonade as they ate a pancake and frittata brunch. Dressed in spring floral prints, pastel colors, headbands and fascinators, women and girls came out to celebrate the mother-daughter bond. St. Junipero Serra Catholic School hosted its first Mother-Daughter Tea for more than 270 guests on May 2 at the San Juan Hills Golf Club in San Juan Capistrano.
FROM LEFT, LAUREN HERMANN, PTO PRESIDENT OF ST. SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL, KATIE HAWK, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA, AND DEBORA DUBEAU, COMMUNITY EVENTS COORDINATOR FOR ST. SERRA CATHOLIC SCHOOL, GATHER FOR A PHOTO AT THE MAY 2 MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA. PHOTOS BY ALAN WENDELL/DIOCESE OF ORANGE
The day featured a photobooth; raffles; bloom bar and dessert cart by Cart Blanche OC; a craft; and speaker Dr. Erin Barisano, superintendent of Orange County Catholic schools. Dr. Barisano spoke about her own journey to motherhood and raising her two children: the joy of being the most important person in your child’s early years; the seasons of partnership as the child grows into her own person; and the stormy middle school years when children are strengthening their roots.
“Motherhood isn’t just about raising a child,” she said. “It’s about the two of you growing together. In a sense, we are both the gardener and the flower, and so I think that we would all agree that the joy of a mother-daughter relationship changes its flavor as the years pass.”
The school traditionally hosts annual mother-son and father-daughter events, but this is the first year for an event that celebrates mothers and daughters. It was also a chance to raise money for emergency tuition assistance.
“It’s so important to teach our children to give back to their community,” said Katie Hock, PTO vice president of the Mother-Daughter Tea. “We don’t know what life is going to throw at us. It’s unpredictable. It’s really comforting to know as a parent that if something were to happen and a challenge were to arise, that there are funds that can help our fellow Serra Bears so they continue their journey with us.”
ST. SERRA EIGHTH GRADERS WEAR FLOWER CROWNS DURING THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEA HELD ON MAY 2.
Seventh-grader Emily Anderson, 13, said she appreciates that her school hosted an event where she gets to have fun and spend time with her mom. The teenager stopped by the bloom bar to pick out greens, pink carnations and white ranunculus for a bouquet for her mom, Katherine Anderson.
“She puts a lot of hard work into our family and makes our lives fun and easy,” Emily Anderson said. “She’s giving us a good education, and I just want to be able to do the small things to thank her for it.”
Katherine Anderson said she’s enjoying all the special moments of the day.
“It’s really special, we’re making a great memory, and I love the event so far,” she said.
Wearing a flower crown on her head, Lucy Bower, 14, joined her soon-to-be-graduating fellow eighth-graders for pictures with their mothers. All the eighth graders received flower crowns to designate their special status. Although this was the first Mother-Daughter Tea, it was one of many lasts before Bower goes on to Santa Margarita Catholic High School next year.
Bower reflected how her larger school — St. Serra serves more than 1,000 students — gave her more opportunities in sports, enrichment activities and building friendships. Despite its size, the school community still felt closeknit.
“Even though it’s a big school, it feels like everyone is family,” she said. “I know everyone in the hallway, and everyone is close. You can trust everyone. If I had a problem, I could go to anyone in my grade and I know they would help.”