Celebrating the Superpowers of Moms, Teachers & Nurses
It’s no accident that May shines a spotlight on three everyday heroes whose care and dedication shape our lives in countless ways.
May 04, 2025
Written by our Founder and CEO, the Celebrations Pulse letters aim to engage with our community. By welcoming your ideas and sharing your stories, we want to help you strengthen your relationships with the most important people in your life.
There’s an old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. But at 1-800-Flowers.com, it’s May that comes in roaring, and it has nothing to do with the weather (or zoo animals).
The early weeks of the month mark a flurry of occasions: Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5-9), Nurses Appreciation Week (May 6-12), and, of course, Mother’s Day (May 11) all gloriously take place in overlapping succession.
This creates a wonderful kind of busy for us. Not because of the volume of orders, but because of the deeper meaning behind them. They’re not just flowers and gift baskets but gestures filled with emotion. They’re how people say, “Thank you,” “I appreciate you,” and “I love you.”
It makes sense for these three occasions to land on the calendar at the same time. Teachers, nurses, and moms have a lot in common: They’re our quiet heroes. Their superpowers — patience, resilience, compassion — often go unseen, but they’re the forces that hold our families and communities together.
Those common superpowers are what make this time of year so special. And while we celebrate these three roles together, each one deserves a closer look.
Lessons that last
I’ve often said I wouldn’t be where I am today without the influence of a remarkable teacher named Dr. Blanche Cook. When I was a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, her class was unlike any other. She challenged us to think critically, to speak up, and to see the world and ourselves differently. She didn’t just deliver lectures; she lit a spark.
Blanche saw something in me before I saw it in myself. And that’s what the best teachers do: They unlock confidence, stir curiosity, and help shape the course of a life. Years later, through a surprising coincidence at a conference, I had the chance to reconnect with her, and I’m glad we did. We’ve stayed in touch ever since.
Every year, I hear stories from Celebrations Pulse readers that illustrate the superpowers of teachers. Take Angelica, a second-year teacher from our community. She told me about her colleague Brooke, who helped Angelica feel supported in her new job. It’s a reminder that some of the most powerful lessons are the ones passed from teacher to teacher.
I also heard from Cookie, whose email stopped me in my tracks. She shared a tribute to the women she taught alongside for decades:
“I want to send out special thanks to Andi, Linda, Jean, Sandy, and Sylvia. These were my coworkers and my work family. We celebrated together and cried together. We supported each other every day and helped each other through the tough times... We taught from the heart and soul. These women are my true heroes.”
The best teachers don’t just teach. They show up, support one another, and pour love into the lives of their students and their colleagues. They help us believe in ourselves. If someone comes to mind as you read this — a teacher, a mentor, a colleague — let them know!
Healing beyond the hospital
Like teachers, nurses have a quiet way of bringing out the best in us, especially in our most vulnerable moments. It’s not just the care they give, but the comfort of a steady hand and a calm voice. They remind us that healing isn’t just physical; it’s deeply emotional, too.
I think of Josephine, a member of our community, who wrote to share her story of being a nurse-turned-patient. She experienced firsthand the impact of the nurses around her — how a small gesture, like offering a sip of cold water or holding her hand during a difficult moment, made all the difference. In her words, those moments weren’t small at all. They were everything.
Then there’s Genevieve, an Amazing Mom and administrator at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, who began her career as a pediatric ICU nurse. She’s never lost the instincts that come from being at the bedside. Her experience fuels a deep admiration for nurses, especially those who balance the demands of the job with the responsibilities of motherhood:
“I have such respect for nurses, many of them mothers. They sacrifice nights, weekends, holidays — precious time with their families. It’s a different level of commitment.”
These nurses, like so many others, don’t just treat illnesses or manage crises. They serve, support, and uplift, often without fanfare, but always with heart. They bring grace to the hardest days and restore hope when it’s been shaken.
Amazing Moms
If the stories of teachers and nurses sound familiar, it’s because many of us first experience those same qualities of compassion, patience, and resilience from our moms. They’re our first teachers, our first nurses, and so often, the steady hand guiding us forward. It’s not just that moms wear many hats; it’s that they embody the very best traits of the caregivers who shape our lives.
So, as we head into Mother’s Day, let’s take the time to express our feelings to the teachers who lit a spark, the nurses who offered comfort, and the moms (and mom figures) who gave us strength. Not because the calendar says we should, but because gratitude is always in season.
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder, CEO, and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
