Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Maria
On August 14th, all the world watched as Maria Shriver opened her eulogy to her mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver with the following words.
“Over the past few days our mother has been called everything from a saint to a pioneer to a trailblazer to a true original to a civil rights advocate of legendary proportions, to a force of human nature who more than held her own in a family of highly competitive, high achieving men,” Shriver said. “She was indeed a transformative figure, but to her five children — Mark, Bobby, Timmy and Anthony, to all of us — she was simply Mummy. Mummy was our hero.”
In a birthday card to her mother, Maria included the following note:
“Dear Mummy,
Happy Happy Birthday. You are my hero and I love you so so much. Thank you for the gift of life, for encouraging me always in everything I have ever done. You have always been my number one fan. The first to call me after every TV show I ever did. The first to visit every bookstore in America and make sure my book was front and center. If not you moved it there yourself. You were always the first to push me forward and to catch me when I fell back. Your life, your work is an example to me of what is possible. You have always fought for the underdog. You are an inspiration and a hero to millions of people with intellectual disabilities -To me you are mummy - tough - smart - funny - competitive - driven. On this birthday I hope you take a moment to realize you have changed the world. Yes you did. You also made my life. You once said you wished everyone could have a daughter named Maria. I wish everyone could have a mother named Eunice. Actually so many have. You mothered a family and a movement. I love you. Happy Birthday Mummy”
Eunice Kennedy Shriver spent her life lending her voice to those who were unheard. In one of the most difficult times in the history of the Kennedy family, she founded the Special Olympics. On a hot July afternoon in 1968, with the recent assassination of her brother Robert as the backdrop, Eunice Kennedy Shriver strode before 100 spectators and about 1000 athletes at Soldier Field in Chicago to open the first Special Olympics Games with the very oath which is still used today:
Let me win,
but if I cannot win
let me be brave
in the attempt.
Her tireless efforts not only resulted in Special Olympics but inspired her only daughter, Maria to greatness. Maria Shriver, the current First Lady of California, is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and mother of four. She has taken on the role of First Lady as an opportunity to unite people for positive change. Through her advocacy, she has been a changemaker for women, the working poor, the intellectually disabled and families struggling with Alzheimers.
When a mother takes the time, energy and passion to mentor her daughter, she leaves the world her most powerful legacy.
Tags: adocacy, changemaker for women, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, First Lady of California, inspiration, Maria Shriver, mentor her daughter, mother, mothered a movement, Special Olympics, transformative figure