Las Vegas moms capture national, state honors

It sounds like a daunting role -- being Mother of the Year -- but when you break it down, it's really no different from motherhood itself.

That's the way Las Vegan Kimberly Wright, mother of four, is approaching her newfound role as American Mothers Inc.'s national Young Mother of the Year. She was chosen at the organzation's conference in April.

During her one-year tenure, she will give a few speechs, mentor others, serve as an example to the community and impart values; sounds like the everyday duties of mothers everywhere.

American Mothers Inc., an interfaith religious organization for mothers, has chapters in several states. The nonprofit's mission is to offer support and reach out to mothers. Each year, state chapters select local members to serve as Young Mother of the Year, a woman younger than 45 with children younger than 18, and a Mother of the Year, a woman older than 45.

Wright, 38, was selected as Nevada's Young Mother of the Year as well as the national representative. Retired Clark County School Board Trustee Mary Beth Scow, 56, was selected as Nevada's Mother of the Year.

Wright joined the organization only in February. At the national convention in Portland, Ore., each state representative gave a speech entitled "I am my mother's garden." Though the topic was the same, each speech was very different, Wright recalls.

"I talked about how some people's journey looks a little different than mine," Wright says. "Their mothers were the ones who planted their seed, but I had lots of people plant my seed."

Wright, originally from Oklahoma, was raised mostly by her grandmother on a small farm. Her parents divorced when she was 5, and her grandfather died when she was in the fifth grade.

The small family raised its own beef, had a little garden and kept fish as pets. Though she was an only child, Wright was as close to her cousin as two sisters can be.

"I lived with my mom a little bit, but I was raised primarily by my grandma," Wright says. "It was such a nice childhood. I can't complain. I didn't have your typical home of a brother, a sister and two parents, but I was raised with small town values."

Even as a young girl, Wright always looked forward to being a mother herself. She and her husband, John, have three boys and a girl, ages 2 to 9 years.

"I knew that we wanted a big family. Four kids is pretty big these days, but I love our organized chaos," Wright says. "We have a rowdy home with lots of love and family and lots of discipline, you know, 'Chew with your mouth closed,' 'Say please,' that sort of thing."

Wright serves as the principal and center director for Calvary Christian Learning Academy and volunteers with her church, Calvary Community. She still makes time to do family things, such as their weekly campout night on Fridays. The family dons pajamas, orders pizza and turns on a family movie.

The Wrights moved to Las Vegas four years ago so that John could take a job in telecommunications, Kimberly Wright says. Every day, she talked to her grandmother by phone, until her death in 2007.

Though it was hard to leave friends and family behind when they moved, they like Las Vegas and find it to be family-friendly, she says. In fact, she hopes to get that message across when she talks to mothers across the country.

"I just think Las Vegas is a really neat place," Wright says. "There are a lot of good families here, and I think the opportunity to say that will come up when (I'm) asked to speak. I'll have the opportunity to say, 'Las Vegas is a wonderful city; you may think of lights, casinos and the Strip, but there are lots of mothers.' "

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.