Apple of Our Eye

Mothers & More is presenting an “Apple of Our Eye” Award to ABC’s Good Morning America for its “Mothers Make It Work” episode that aired on March 31.

The purpose of the “Apple of Our Eye” Award is to call attention to acts that honor the importance of caregiving work and respect mothers’ individuality and right to make their own decisions about how to care for themselves and their families. 

After a rough start to approaching the complicated issues facing mothers by conducting a week-long series re-igniting the so-called “mommy wars,” Good Morning America finally got it right with their “Mothers Make It Work” segment. The reaction to that initial series was quick, loud and angry. Emails from mothers across the country poured in to Diane Sawyer and the show’s producers, urging GMA to take a more constructive track: to recognize that, in reality, mothers do support one another no matter their work/family choices and that, together, mothers face a common foe—workplaces that do not work for them.

Good Morning America could have chosen to do what so many other shows before them have done—turn a deaf ear to the pleas for more in-depth, realistic reporting that mothers offered in their responses, and simply revel in the heightened viewership these contentious shows sometimes generate or, worse yet, take the negative response as a cue to do a follow-up segment that just continues to fan the flames.

Instead, the show not only chose to take the high road, they actually blazed a new trail. Their “Mothers Make It Work” segment convened a roomful of mothers who represented a variety of paid work, caregiving work and family make-up situations. Diane Sawyer encouraged these women to share the complexity of their work/family situations and joined with them to come to consensus about societal changes that could improve their lives. At the conclusion of the segment, Good Morning America committed to follow up by continuing to solicit mothers’ thoughts and ideas, and to provide mothers with additional information and resources, on the air and on their website.

Bravo, Diane Sawyer and Good Morning America! We hope that other shows will follow your path.

Read our letter to Good Morning America

Dear Ms. Sawyer:

“It is my pleasure to inform you that you and Good Morning America have won Mothers & More’s “Apple of Our Eye” Award for your “Mothers Make It Work” feature…”

Read the letter  

HELP US CELEBRATE THE APPLE OF OUR EYE AWARD!

Here are some things you can do:

• Send Good Morning America an email. Feel free to cut the sample below and paste it in an e-mail to the show or compose your own.  
• Let your friends and family know about the Apple of Our Eye Award! Feel free to cut and paste the letter below. 

Like what you see on our website and want to join us? Become a member of Mothers & More.

Like the work that Mothers & More is doing to improve the lives of mothers? Contribute to Mothers & More.

Want to know more about Mothers & More? Go back to our home page and browse our site!

Sample Email to Send Good Morning America:

Highlight the letter below, and copy to your clipboard. Then paste into an e-mail to Good Morning America, and send it to them at advocacy@mothersandmore.org. 
NOTE: Use language in parentheses if it applies to you. 

Dear Ms. Sawyer:
(I am a member of the _______ chapter of Mothers & More, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy.)

I want to thank you and Good Morning America for shifting direction away from the old, tired, unproductive and unwelcome “mommy wars” storyline and finally addressing the complicated issues each American mother deals with when juggling family responsibilities, (paid work,) and everything else in her life.  By opening a dialogue between mothers with your feature “Mothers Make It Work,” your show has pioneered what I’ve been hoping mainstream media would do for a long time: fully address the very real issues I face as a mother and acknowledge that dealing with these issues should not be just my personal problem. 

[Insert any personal stories or comments]

Thank you again for addressing the issues important to mothers and please don’t stop with this one episode!
Very truly yours,

Sample Email to Friends & Family about the Apple of Our Eye Award:

Highlight the letter below and copy it in an e-mail to friends and family.

Dear Friend:
I wanted to let you know that Mothers & More has presented an Apple of Our Eye Award to Diane Sawyer and ABC’s Good Morning America show for its “Mothers Make It Work” episode. The Award is used to call attention to acts that honor the importance of caregiving work and respect mothers’ individuality and right to make their own decisions about how to care for themselves and their families.
To learn more, visit the website at www.mothersandmore.org.

Mothers & More is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy. They address mothers’ needs as individuals and members of society, and promote the value of all the work mothers do. For nearly 20 years, Mothers & More has been bringing mothers together to weather the challenges they face, provide a network of support for one another, and advocate on mothers’ behalves.

I hope you’ll take a look at the award and do all you can to help celebrate it!
Sincerely,