Wisdoms of Motherhood

ARTICLE BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re featuring local mothers. These women shared the highs and lows of pregnancy and motherhood, the values and faith they strive to instill in their children, and their reflections on their own mothers. A common experience, yet unique to each person, motherhood stretches us beyond our wildest dreams, challenging us in the moment and leaving legacies after we’re gone. The vulnerability and honesty in the following pages showcases the strength and vitality of motherhood across generations. 

Suchi and Shrey Rodda

Coming to the U.S. to pursue a master’s in computer science, Suchi invested in the promise of America. After graduating from LA Tech and returning to Hyderabad, India, she realized she couldn’t thrive in such a patriarchal environment. After marrying her husband, Suchi returned to the States, taking a position as a Senior Web Developer at ULM. In 2016, pregnant with her son Shrey and alone, Suchi questioned the inherent strength she’d always taken for granted. On the threshold of motherhood, and for the first time, Suchi felt fragile in her own body as the physical toll of pregnancy raged. 

Suchi’s mother Nirmala Kumari flew in for Shrey’s birth and cared for mother and son for several months. Motherhood shifted Suchi’s perspective on her own mother’s experience. Never one to celebrate her birthdays, Suchi realized not celebrating belittled her mother’s efforts. Suchi’s birthday is an honor of Nirmala’s commitment, a thank you for her love and continued sacrifice. In the newborn stage, Suchi ruminated in worries of “What if…’, insisting she or Nirmala stay awake at all times. Despite the fear and physical challenges, sharing those early stages of Shrey’s life with her mother further strengthened their bond. 

Shrey is the quintessential pillar in Suchi’s foundation, an anchor in life. He is sweet, sassy, and kind – a “young Sheldon” of sorts with a strong sense of self. At only 8, Shrey does his own laundry and other household chores, as Suchi communicates that their shared space must be mutually maintained. When correcting Shrey, she tells him that her concerns fall into four buckets: health, safety, learning, and respect – that when he doubts her direction, he should consider its container. Suchi instills in Shrey her deep-rooted Christian values, a cornerstone of moral clarity for life’s inevitable challenges. 

Mothering continually showcases Suchi’s strength. When she feels weak, she won’t give up because this little human is looking to her for guidance. Suchi insists, “I am a better version of myself because someone unconsciously holds me accountable.” 

Jayla, Tre and Arnetra King

As the oldest of four siblings, Arnetra King describes herself as the motherly type. She acted as protector and nurturer while her parents worked, and she possesses a genuine passion for people. Arnetra is currently a customer service manager at Entergy Louisiana, where she has been employed for the past 21 years. People come to Arnetra for advice, guidance, or just to talk about life. She considers helping others to be her purpose in life. As a little girl, Arnetra pictured the white picket fence and two children, a boy and a girl. After graduating college from the University of Louisiana Monroe and securing her career, Arnetra met Kenny King, a teacher at Riser Elementary School and coach at Riser Middle. The couple shared similar interests and life goals, and they married in June of 2007. 

Daughter Jayla (18) attends LA Tech, majoring in Interior Design. Jayla’s mild mannerisms and sweet nature come directly from her mother. As the eldest child, Jayla is mature beyond her years, an old soul and calming presence. Son Tre (15) is a freshman at West Monroe High School. He plays quarterback on the football team and wears his father’s number (#8). Funny and smart, though somewhat slow to warm up to people, Tre is a Mama’s boy through and through. 

Arnetra’s mother Gail showcases strength and independence. She worked multiple jobs to help provide for the family and made sure Arnetra’s and her siblings’ emotional needs were met. Likewise, maternal grandmother, Warnice Crow, and paternal grandmother, Anna Mae Dizer,  provided the spiritual influences, a practice Arnetra continues to this day.  She reminds her children to keep God first and remain humble, to practice kindness in interactions with friends and family and to not take anything in life for granted. 

Motherhood does not come with a handbook, and the experience has stretched Arnetra in ways she couldn’t have imagined. In replicating the lessons from her childhood and softening around the edges, Arnetra takes pride in the responsibility God has given her. 

Abby, Beckham and Harper Mitchell

Abby Mitchell prides herself on independence and preparation. After being a nanny for seven years, impending motherhood felt like a path she’d walked. At 35 weeks pregnant with daughter Harper though, a severe car wreck forced Abby to relinquish control and welcome the help of others. Additionally, Harper spent seven days in the NICU, with Abby rolling in and out on a knee scooter, along with husband Dee. The postpartum fear caught Abby off guard. She couldn’t do this alone; she couldn’t even walk. Abby’s mother Billie stepped in, along with other family members, friends, and fellow teachers at Swartz Upper Elementary – helping with meals, household duties, and Harper’s care. Though initially uncomfortable, the situation humbled Abby – she needed people. 

Three years later, absent a vehicular accident and ensuing trauma, Abby gave birth to son Beckham. Having learned to let things go and welcome assistance, Abby enjoyed a lighter experience. Three-year-old Beckham is a Mama’s boy, lovable and sweet, though a trickster in practice. In contrast, 6-year-old Harper is a Daddy’s girl. Though not shy, Harper can be reserved, a deep thinker, just like her daddy. She knows what she wants and often gets it. 

Abby credits her mothering to Billie’s example of fierce independence – cooking full meals every night after work, making Christmas candy for coworkers and neighbors, and climbing on the roof to string Christmas lights herself. Even with her husband’s help, Abby admits it’s hard to accomplish half of what her mother did. The nurturing she learned from babysitter Page West who modeled patience amidst chaos. Abby’s motherhood mantra is loving her kids wherever they are; she wants them to come to her and Dee for guidance and support. She centers God in their family life and encourages their questions. Above all, Abby has learned to give herself grace, leaning more into who she is than who she aspires to be. 

Natalie, Harper and Harlow Bassil

For Natalie Bassil, motherhood was always on the horizon. After choosing a career in elementary education, Natalie and her husband Brian (19 years) were the first in their friend group to take the leap. Finding a home and settling as a couple made sense before expanding their family. Daughter Harper (11) came along nine years later, followed by Harlow (8). Raised in a family of three girls, Natalie is intentional with her daughters’ time and activities, ferrying them from Missy Crain and Louisiana Delta Ballet classes, to tumbling at LA Chaos, and regular visits to their church home, North Monroe Baptist. As a 10-year teacher at Sterlington Elementary, Natalie relishes the consistent presence in her daughters’ lives, a front-row seat to their budding relationships. 

Harper is a “little Natalie” in 5th-grade, Jesus-loving and in a bouncy package. Harper accompanies her mother to school early in the morning, helping the librarian and younger students complete AR tests. Natalie cultivated Harper’s love of reading, suggesting Harper find characters to relate to even when the plot disappoints, that a lesson is always lingering between the pages. In contrast, as daughters tend to be, 2nd grader Harlow is a fun and silly firecracker, who detests being wrong and has no issues speaking her mind. As her daughters’ personalities emerge, Natalie is even more grateful that God entrusted these precious beings into her care and knows she was put on this earth to be their mom. 

Natalie’s mom Ginger, affectionately known as GinGin, is a rock star grandparent and former teacher, as involved with her grandchildren as she was in Natalie and her sisters’ lives. Ginger modeled presence and support, the foundation of Natalie’s approach to parenthood. The values of kindness and independence remain consistent cornerstones in the Bassil family. Natalie leans into her faith for guidance, and prays Luke 2:52 for her children that they, like Christ, “may grow in wisdom and stature and find favor with God and with man.”