Jillian’s Story
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We all know that when bad things happen, they come in multiples.
For middle school teacher Jillian Mackey, it was a rough couple of years. But the resilience and inventiveness she demonstrates to her three children is the reason La Jolie MLN chose Jillian to be the recipient of our “WAY TO GO!” gift.
Jillian’s marriage ended suddenly and she was left to raise her three children who were quite young at the time. She has a set of twins (a boy and a girl) and a daughter. Shortly after the divorce, her mom died and her dad became ill and needed her attention.
When we spoke with Jillian’s close friend Jayme, we learned a lot about how awesome women can be at coping in a crisis. Jayme told me that throughout the Covid epidemic, Jillian has had to teach both virtually and in-person. That meant finding people to provide support for her kids who were not able to attend in-person school and had to stay home.
With limited funds, Jillian managed to find a mix of tutors and loyal friends who, together, made up a support team for her kids.
But, as Jillian told Jayme, “Support isn’t enough. I want to raise motivated kids.” So, Jillian made sure that they all remained active in sports such as soccer, gymnastics and cheer leading. Says Jillian, “We talk a lot about the importance of teamwork, but if you don’t learn how to be a team player when you’re a kid, how are you going to apply the principles when you’re an adult?”
In that vein, Jillian is a voracious reader and believer in ‘put your money where your mouth is.’ She takes online classes for self-improvement. Jayme shared a story about when she visited Jillian and her family recently. “I said to Jillian’s daughter how pretty she looked, and Jillian added “And smart!” Jayme says, “Jillian is a tiger when it comes to her kids’ strength of character. She wants them to know that they are more than personal appearance; they too can be resilient, sharing and confident.”
For this reason, La Jolie MLN chose Jillian Mackey as our
April 2021 recipient of the “WAY TO GO!” award.
We gifted Jillian with a complete ensemble
—Her choice of an outfit and accessories.
And then, here’s what Jillian had to say…
“Thanks to La Jolie MLN for this gift. It really lifted my spirits.
And thanks to all my friends who have not only stood by my family, but helped us throughout a difficult time.
–Jillian Mackey
La Jolie MLN: ”It’s our mission to give young ladies the lessons all of you can share with us. So, let’s share our experiences, strength and stories.
I cordially invite you to join a cohort of empowered women. Please send your stories to Blog@lajolie-mln.com
–And don’t forget to join us live on Instagram @La.Jolie.MLN for “Morning with Fashion” this Saturday at 10:30am CDT to meet Jillian!