Helen Tran is a star to daughter Samanatha Ngo. (Stephen Yang)
Cook, chauffeur, cheerleader, confidante and nurse — is there any role mothers won’t play for their kids? From what The Post’s young readers tell us, their moms do it all — sometimes all at once. Congratulations to Talia Falkenburg, Maurice Jackman Jr., and Samantha Ngo, who each won a $100 gift certificate to the Skin Spa for their moms. Let them — and all the honorable mentions — inspire you to thank your own mom this Mother’s Day — and always.
Mom and nurse in one!
It’s not every kid who can say their mom is a super action hero! In the mornings, she makes me breakfast, drops me at school and then flies off to her job, becoming a super nurse. At work she takes care of sick people. She checks their vital signs: blood pressure and heartbeat. Then, after an exhaustive 12-hour shift, she turns back into super mom. She fixes me delicious and nutritious dinners, cleans the house, irons our uniforms and spends the evenings going over my homework and reading with me. I feel like a special kid.
— Maurice Jackman Jr., 10, The Bronx
A role for all seasons
My mom is like a movie star — the lead actress in the movie of my life. Like any actor, she has many roles. When I feel sick, she’s a nurse. When I’m lonely, she’s a friend. Being the lead, she has one of the most important roles. The only difference between her and a movie star is that she isn’t acting.
— Samantha Ngo, 13, Brooklyn
Ten things at once
My mom is the ultimate multitasker. She balances her work and volunteering for the homeless and disabled with taking care of me and my little brother, cooking whimsical breakfasts, helping with homework, arranging play dates, making us cake pops, doing craft projects and planning fun family outings all in one day. Superwoman must envy her because she really can do 10 different things at once.
— Talia Falkenberg, 10, Manhattan
‘She’s better than Princess Leia!’
1. Princess Leia is pretty, but Mom is beautiful.
2. Princess Leia is smart, but Mom is smarter.
3. Princess Leia can shoot a gun, but Mom can cook well.
4. Princess Leia dresses nice, but Mom dresses better.
5. Princess Leia uses the Force, but our mom only needs her brains to do smart stuff.
6. Princess Leia flies a space ship, but Mom drives her car better. We love our mom!
— Brandon Kramer, 8, and Balian Kramer, 6, Dover, Del.
She rocks my world!
My mother, Yolenxi, is just like Justin Bieber because she always sings everywhere! Like the living room, bathroom, her room, in the car, at my grandma’s house and also many more places. She sings happy birthday to me. And also when she is at a celebration she sings all the songs. When it is Father’s Day, she sings a song for my dad.
— Inneloy Polanco, 7, Queens
She’s as smart as Tony Stark
My mommy is like Iron Man (or Iron WOMAN!) because she does really everything in the world for me and is super-smart like Tony Stark is. She can always do anything I need and makes me food and snacks and writes notes every day (except one time she forgot) and she loves me more than anyone in the world can love anyone. I don’t think she can fly like him but my mom has surprised me before so who knows?
— Erin Kate Intravia, 7, LI
Powerpuff at work, softy at home
My mom is a correctional officer and she does a lot for me. On Mondays she takes me to a piano lesson and then acting lessons. If I get good grades she takes me to awesome places, like Central Park and the Empire State Building . . . She’s tough when she takes care of the bad guys every day so I describe her as Buttercup in the Powerpuff Girls. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you!
— Gloria Kirkland, 11, Newburgh, NY
She holds up my world
It is mid- December in Rockefeller Center. Though my vision is blurred from being bombarded with icy raindrops, I can still recognize the iconic silhouette of Atlas suspending the globe upon his back. In that moment, and every moment since, I have seen my mother in the very same light. She seems to carry the entire world on her shoulders, but still remains upright. I am in awe of her perseverance and tenacity, her remarkable strength. She is forever my Atlas.
— Alanna McAuliffe, 17, Staten Island
Tickled pink!
My mom is my Wonder Woman because she always understands me. She wakes me in the morning by tickling and singing to me. She helps me with things that are hard, like finding Lego pieces or writing. At the end of every dinner, she lets me sit on her lap and holds me. At night, we plan a dream together and she tickles me.
— Ryan Falk, 8, Manhattan
She’s just right for me
My mom is a just-right mom for me, but may not be to others. She may not sing too well, but at least she knows how to sing songs that I like. She’s pretty and smart. She’s always there when I need help. Her eyes shine stars. She is wonderful!
— Milly Weng, 9, Manhattan
Flexible? She’s incredible!
My mom reminds me of Elastigirl from “The Incredibles.” She is flexible with any issue and always knows what to do. Like one time, my brother got lost in the park. She went straight to the police. We found him! The whole time, she stood brave and strong. She helps me when I am sad and explains important things to me so I understand. She takes care of me and gives me what I need.
— Julie Wiener, 9, Manhattan
Life lessons, plucked from her banjo
My bluegrass-pickin’ mom is as upbeat as the banjo she plays. During my city childhood, her unique brand of magic turned strangers into friends over the course of a bus or subway ride. Because of her example I became confident and outgoing. She recalls that at 5, I charged up to a group of boys kicking a soccer ball calling, “May I play? I’ve had experience!” My mom has given me many great experiences that I treasure.
— Haskell Wells, 17, Manhattan
Uncle Mom’s Cabin
My mother has always been someone who makes decisions based on her experiences and beliefs and stands by them. If she thinks something is unjust and needs changing, you can be sure she will find a way. For this reason, my mom reminds me of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the abolitionist who made her ideas public by writing “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in 1852, opening the eyes of many Americans who didn’t realize the cruelty and unfairness of slavery at the time.
— Chloe Cossentino, 13, LI
A master juggler
My mom has to take care of four kids and my dad while barely getting enough sleep. She also has to juggle other chores such as grocery shopping, making us snacks, cooking our dinner, cleaning the house, doing dishes and picking us up from school . . . At the same time, she always has time to spend one-on-one for each of us. My mom is always ready with a big hug and kiss. She doesn’t only show us that she loves us, she always tells us how much she loves us.
My mom always says that she loves being a Mommy and that it’s the best thing she’s ever done.
— Vito Oliveri, 11, LI
My mom, the media maven
What “super powers” does my mom have? During the day, she is a media maven who gets her clients featured in media interviews. After hours and anytime she is needed, she is my advocate who makes sure that I am on the right track. She makes sure that I pay attention to my homework. Having fun is a “super power” too and whether we are enjoying Indian food or working out at the YMCA, my mom makes life great.
— Grant Thompson, 13, Manhattan
Movie-star looks, warm heart
My mama is like a movie star for a lot of reasons! She has pretty strawberry blond hair and green eyes. She also helps me with my homework and doesn’t ever get impatient. She is nice to my stuffed animals that I sleep with every night of my life. She also cooks and orders me food that I love and like. I have the best mama in the universe!
— Abe Shire, 9, Manhattan
When you need her, she’s there!
If my mom weren’t so heroic, I wouldn’t be here right now! When I got my second concussion in soccer, she was the first person there, holding my hand and calling the ambulance. When I split my pants, she came to my school with my new clean clothes in a heartbeat. (Yes, it really happened!) Sorry — I couldn’t fit all my mom’s heroics into 80 words.
— Marcel Arrington, 9, LI
Note-perfect parenting
My mom is great because when I am sick she wakes up in the night and gives me medicine and checks my temperature. My mom is great because even when she is tired, she takes me to the park. When I cannot eat by myself, she feeds me. She helps me do my homework. She packs me healthy lunches for school. She corrects me when I do a wrong note when I practice my flute. She helps me practice my singing.
— Reshmita Nayudu, 6, the Bronx
My own Mother Teresa
Clearly our moms have something special about them. But if I were to pick any movie star, world leader, singer or even an action hero, I would compare my mother with Mother Teresa, who loved helping others. My mom does her best to help that person to her fullest ability.
— Andrew Donado, 16, LI
Say yes to cookies!
Mom, you’re my superhero. You are always flying from place to place to get me and the boys. After a stressful day, you and I sit on the couch and eat a whole box of Mallomars watching “Say Yes to the Dress.” Somehow, you still haven’t gained any weight . . . Even if sometimes you get angry, Mama, we still love you a lot! Happy Mother’s Day!
— Daphne Gutch, 13, Pelham Manor, NY
No one has a patch on her!
My mom is a superhero! She can clean up in a lickety split. She is a school nurse and has three kids — one girl (that’s me) and my two brothers. She walks our dog Kit-Kat every day. She goes to every soccer and baseball game. She also takes me to Brownies and sews my patches on my vest. She is a spectacular mom!
— Kate Stedronsky, 8, Spring Lake, NJ
Feline and fearless
Catwoman was modeled after my mom. Apart from being the cutiest lady in a cat suit, my mom cleans up crime and makes it look easy. On her rare days from her ever-changing life — being a flight attendant and suite attendant at the Meadowlands stadium — she likes to sit in the sun, read The Post and gab on the phone.
— Olivia Buttigheri, 17, Fanwood, NJ
Responsible for all
I would like to say my Mom is no movie star, actress, or super hero — she’s better. Anything she could possibly do to make my family’s lives better, she takes it as a responsibility to do so. She always finds something to keep me going through the day, and is a fantastic role model. There is nothing I could do in my worldly power to thank her.
— Trevor Danna, 13, LI
A reason to smile
My mom has made me believe that you don’t always have to fit in when you were born to stand out. My mom has done so much and she doesn’t even ask for anything in return. She has always been here for me whenever I’m sad or mad. She’s always the one who can make me feel better, and she has always been the reason for my smile.
— Kyle Moyer, 11, LI
Her Kryptonite? Lost PJs
My Mom is a superhero. Her super-power is finding things around the house that are lost. Me and my sister and my dad are the super-villains who lose things. All superheroes have a weakness. Her weakness is nighttime, when she gets tired when we won’t get our pajamas on.
— Jacob Zik, 9, Scarsdale, NY
The Emmy Award goes to . . .
My mom can be summed up in two words: simply amazing. Her many great qualities can be seen in movie stars, world leaders, singers and action heroes, but I couldn’t think of one that was as great as her. She’s beautiful, smart, loving, has a wonderful sense of humor, helpful, gives wonderful advice and is there for you. I could finish describing every quality that makes my mom amazing, but I only have 80 words, not thousands.
— Emily Barcia, 14, LI
She’s so original!
My mom is the type of person who doesn’t cross the average person’s path. She’s beautiful inside and out. She has this way in everything she does that’s her own: the way she can sweet-talk you into making her coffee, the way she’ll ask you a million times the name of a song as if she’s never heard it, the way she blasts Ke$ha in the car. That’s what makes her, well, her. And it’s why I love her.
— Jaclyn Bellini, 14, Millstone Township, NJ
“She carried me to safety’
My mom is a super hero because she saved us from the flood. She carried me through very deep water to be safe upstairs at our house during the hurricane. But before the storm, we would go to Broadway shows and later meet the actors from the play. My mom deserves a special day because she spends every day taking care of us.
— Shane Mulvey, 9, LI
This cub loves his Tiger Mom
Does your mother help you every day in life? My mother has supported me throughout 13 years, by giving me all the help I ever needed.
At times she may be as fierce as a tiger, but I don’t succumb. She spends time and money that she probably can’t afford, so that I can excel. My mother is clearly a superhero to me.
— Anthony Hom, 13, Manhattan
She does it all!
I have a really big family and my mom helps them all out individually. Last week was super busy, but have no fear, Supermom is here! Monday: Grandma’s doctor appointment, 10:30. Tuesday: My brother’s Steve’s surgery and baseball game. Wednesday: Dentist appointment. Thursday: BILLS! Friday: Steve’s friends come over. Saturday: Shopping.
Sunday is the only day when she can enjoy her coffee slowly and not be in a rush. My mom needs a break!
—Rachel Thomas 12, Queens
She won’t quit — and won’t let me quit, either
One very special day — my first travel soccer practice — I jogged onto a huge field where my new coach was standing. By the end of practice, I sprinted to my mom’s car and started crying. “I hate coach! I quit!”
“Jacqueline, calm down,” Mom answered. “Just hang in there.”
Mom was right. He’s great! That day I learned to never give up, because of my mom!
— Jacqueline Jaskiewicz, 9, Darien, Conn.