By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Meadow View Elementary School kindergartener Lauren Garrett didn’t have to think long when asked her favorite thing about her mother.

“She cooks for me!” Garrett, a student in Kathy Matthews’ class, said as she smiled at her mother on May 6.

The school’s kindergarten students gave their mothers plenty of reasons to smile on the Friday before Mother’s Day, as several classes hosted teas in honor of the holiday.

During the teas, students presented their moms with presents they made in class throughout the week, such as flower vases, butterfly magnets and corsages. The kids treated their mothers to a snack in their classrooms before performing skits and musical routines they perfected during the days leading up to the tea.

“Absolutely, it was a surprise. I wasn’t expecting all of this,” said Garrett’s mother, Lanei.

Across the room, kindergartener Neely Hulsey also treated her mother to a snack and handmade gifts.

“My favorite thing about my mom is that she holds me,” Hulsey said as she hugged her mother, Emily.

During the event, Matthews showed the mothers a video featuring fake job interviews for a “director of operations” position. During the interviews, the candidates were told they would have to be available 24/7, and would have to put the “associate’s” needs above their own.

After the candidates expressed shock at the job’s demands, they were told millions of mothers perform the job every day.

Matthews thanked the mothers for being a part of their children’s education.

“It’s a team,” Matthews said. “I depend on you almost as much as they depend on you.”