Life is changing drastically. I am excited to join “the club” whose greatest joys are the little people they’re raising. I am anxious about not being able to just pack a towel and head off to float the river on a whim. I am constantly entertained with thoughts of the child my husband and I have dreamed about for years – will they have blue or brown eyes? Curly hair?

It was at 20 weeks that I had the terrifying “what am I doing” moment. It happened when I went from simply thinking “I’m going to be a mom” to “I’m going to be someone’s mom”.

It made me think about what my mother means to me. She is my lifeline, confidant, the person I know I can ask anything from at any time. On the rare day I don’t necessarily need something from her, I still call her because she’s my best friend.

She has always known exactly what I need and when I need it. From those cherry-print leggings she dressed me in during the 90s, to the handwritten letter I opened while drafting this reflection. What she wrote two weeks ago, she knew I needed to hear in this moment. I’ll share it here shortly.

It took the “someone” moment to realize I’ve never truly understood all she has done for me. There is no question, her wants and desires come second to those of her children. I am terrified about my ability, or quite frankly lack thereof, to be so selfless.

This apprehension, however, is eased by the words of my mother’s letter. She wrote “What you are becoming is more important than what you are accomplishing.”

Because of the example of my mother, I’m ready and well equipped to become what our little babe needs.

—Megan Smith, Kalispell

I have had the good fortune of being able to learn first-hand what Flathead High School how teachers are facilitating the online learning experiences of their students during this COVID pandemic.

I am supporting my grandson who is a sophomore at Flathead High School through this experience. I am so impressed with the communication he receives from the teachers in each of his classes. They post assignments, provide models as to how the assignments need to be completed and have daily reminders about when things are due. His teachers have also been available on the phone and via email to chat with their students as well as the adults supporting their children and grandchildren through this process. What amazes me is how quickly teachers were able to move from in-class to online teaching.

As an educator, who worked in the Kalispell School District as the language arts coordinator, I was always so impressed with the caliber of talent and professionalism of our local teachers. We were able to hire the best and the excellence of our local teachers has never been more apparent than now. Our children are indeed fortunate.

Thank you Kalispell teachers and administrators for your hard work and astounding creativity.

—Carol Santa, Marion

Petunia Pig is a very lucky girl. It’s not every day that a small nonprofit requests help for a dwarf pig (Inter Lake, April 14). Petunia’s vet bill has been paid and we have so many that gave donations to make sure Petunia is starting over debt free! Our small farm is enjoyed by the residents at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, those we serve in various programs and many community members. Petunia will soon be well enough to start work as a “Therapy Pig In-Training” because of those donations. Thank you!

Petunia would not be alive if it wasn’t for the amazing and selfless medical attention she received from doctors, K.C and Brandon Gates at the Ponderosa Veterinary Hospital. We are grateful they didn’t give up on her, even though they mainly see cats and dogs. Petunia needed them and they helped her without hesitation.

In this time of uncertainty our community hasn’t overlooked something as special as a dwarf pig needing medical help. It’s a good feeling to know kindness is living here in our valley.

—Sherry Lewis-Peterson is Executive Director of Farming For the Future Academy in Columbia Falls

The week of May 6-13 is national Nurse Appreciation Week. We all should rally around this occasion to thank all nurses throughout the globe who provide primary care in hospitals, clinics and many other sites. This should include nursing staff, aides, housecleaning, construction, dietary and laboratory staffs in addition to all of the critical researchers who are presently engrossed in very critical pursuits. As a retired physician of 45 years, we learned very earlier in school and residency that actually the most important individuals who attend to clients are the above mentioned staffs. We can not thank them enough!

Secondly, I would like to also thank the often under-appreciated, nominally paid, and probably the most important individuals who work with us throughout our lives — the teachers. This includes primary teachers, aides, dietary, and administrative. As we should know, the only things that separate us from other species are the acquisition of knowledge and its corresponding use in hopefully creative ventures. The teaching staffs help generate such, often having to act in other roles as well, including parenting. They are now embroiled in the difficult task of teaching remotely in our brave new world. Of all the people on Earth I have faith in for the future, they are the teachers and the scientists. Thank you all!

—Dr. Jack Hornby, Kalispell

The weather is warming and like many Montanans, I have an itch to go enjoy the outdoors! One of my family’s favorite ways to do that is going to Glacier Park. Every Mother’s Day, my husband, three children and I head to Glacier Park. We skip rocks at Lake McDonald or Avalanche Creek, walk along one of the trails, or bike on the road. We did this when I was pregnant with my first child, and it has become an annual tradition over the 17 years since. It breaks my heart to think we may not be able to go on Mother’s Day this year.

It seems the main reason the park is closed is to keep out-of-state visitors away. My suggestion would be to open Glacier Park within the week to individuals with in-state driver’s licenses only. It’s a fair way to ensure no out-of-state visitation is encouraged at this time. And then it allows our inhabitants to enjoy their park and fend off the depression and anxiety that has doubtlessly crept into everyone’s life over the past weeks. With nothing much open in West Glacier this time of year, there should be no large increase in activity in the surrounding communities. Once in the park, there is social distancing by default! Even in the busy summer months I don’t think I come within 6 feet of others.

I have written letters to Governor Bullock and the Glacier Park administration, and ask that any readers who also wish to enjoy Glacier Park sooner rather than later would do the same. Perhaps our combined voices will result in an open park for Montanans soon.

—Tricia Wilmot, Whitefish