On an unexpectedly sunny Sunday morning in Portland’s Old Port, mothers and children walked along the cobblestones, holding hands and treating their moms on their special day. 

To celebrate Mother’s Day, we asked kids of all ages what they loved about their moms – and moms about what they love about motherhood. Through smiles and tears, here’s what they said.

‘THE BIGGEST HEART EVER’

While waiting to get a table outside of Becky’s Diner, Chloe Olsen and her mom cooed at her 5-month-old son, Baker, in his stroller. Olsen, 31, was visiting family in Portland from Birmingham, Alabama, with her mother Jamie Anderson, 64, who came up from Virginia. 

“I think my mom is so generous, not just with her things — I’m gonna cry — or with her love. She doesn’t hold back, and she doesn’t discriminate between her children or between anybody else who needs a little love,” said Olsen. 

Also waiting to eat at Becky’s Diner, Brandy Kneissler, 63, sat on a bench sandwiched between her two 25-year-old twins, Casey and Reece Kneissler. She had been recounting the day the twins were born, how much one had smushed the other in the womb, and the adorable matching bumblebee outfits she used to dress them in. 

“I really loved being a mom.,” said Brandy Kneissler, who lives in Cape Elizabeth. “Just really, kind of got really into it, maybe too much sometimes!” 

She said motherhood taught her a deeper kindness and warmth, a new perspective that led her to work with adults with intellectual disabilities. It’s a lesson she also imparted on her children. 

“She always says, ‘It’s nice to be nice at the Kneissler’s,’ to make sure we’re always nice,” said Reece Kneissler, of Scarborough. “Just that kindness, that generosity that she taught me, I always try to bring it forward into the world.”

“She has literally the biggest heart ever,” said Casey Kneissler, who lives in Biddeford. “I’m so grateful for her.” 

Brothers Reid Cassidy, 6, and Parker Cassidy, 4, exited Becky’s Diner with their parents after a breakfast of Mickey Mouse pancakes and hot chocolate with whipped cream to celebrate their mom. Earlier that morning, the brother brought Lisa Cassidy, 44, a cookie and a Snickers candy bar for “breakfast” in bed. 

Reid said his favorite things to do with his mom was play football. Parker’s answer was cozier: “cuddle.”

Dining as a family in the sunshine at The Porthole Restaurant, Olivia Richard, 21, and her brother Jack Richard, 20, shared their favorite things about their mom Kelli Richard, 53.

“She’s a great role model for me,” Olivia Richard said of her mom. “She’s a very fierce leader. She inspires me as a woman.” 

“She’s not a quitter,” Jack Richard added. “She’s passionate. She makes it very abundantly clear that she cares.”

‘THE JOURNEY THROUGH MOTHERHOOD’

Kelli Richard, who lives with her family in Saco, shared how struggles with infertility before having her children gives her deep appreciation for the opportunity to be a mom. 

“It’s more than I could have ever bargained for,” she said. “It’s awesome.” 

Many moms shared how motherhood gave them new perspectives. 

While getting a treat at the Holy Donut on Commercial Street, Kylie Low, 36, shared that her mom died three weeks after her daughter was born. Through becoming a mom herself three years ago, Low said she is able to better understand her own mother’s experience. 

“I may not be able to say the word ‘mom’ and have someone respond, but now I get to hear ‘mom’ all the time,” said Low, getting choked up. 

Other moms reflected on the importance of community in raising children. Also at The Porthole Restaurant, four moms toasted after completing the Portland Sea Dogs Mother’s Day 5K, surrounded by their husbands and a gaggle of their young children running around. 

“There’s so many hard things about being a mom and exciting things, and you get through it with other moms,” said Laura Tyson, of Scarborough, wearing a “Boy Mom” baseball hat. 

Their second time running this race, the group hopes to make it a yearly tradition, marking each year of being a mom and all the lessons learned. 

“It’s celebrating the journey through motherhood,” Corinn Normandin said.