By Kristi Yamaguchi
With Mother’s Day upon us, it’s hard not to think of other moms and other families. Whether it’s a solid roof over their head, clean water, or medications on hand, I hope that they have the opportunity to raise a healthy family like we have. As a mom, you want to do everything you can to provide for your children and give them opportunities.
For all of the kids out there in the world, I think the biggest wish I have is that they are able to pursue their dreams, because they are the future. They are the ones who will be taking care of us and taking care of our planet. Helping them fulfill their dreams, by providing their basic needs, is just so essential.
As a mom, especially having daughters, I think about, “What can I do for my kids? How can I raise them to be strong and independent?” Both my husband and I are athletes, and we found that sports teach you a lot of incredible life lessons: resilience, persistence, perseverance. It also teaches you to get through tough times, to face challenges head on, to let those challenges make you stronger, and teaches you to never give up.
As a young kid, I was probably not the most athletic or coordinated, but I think that knowing I had to work a little harder and set my goals a little higher, taught me some very good lessons in life.
Hopefully, I can pass some of these things onto my daughters. As a parent, I just wish the very best for them. Thanks for sharing and always dream.
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Athlete, artist, wife, mother, philanthropist—in each of these things Kristi Yamaguchi embodies the word champion. Her motto is “Always Dream,” and Kristi’s accomplishments prove that dreams can come true with hard work and dedication. Her achievements—on the ice, in her personal life and in the realm of community service—are many, all of which prove her consistent commitment to excellence.
Following her victories at the 1992 Winter Olympics and World Championships, Kristi embarked on a successful professional career that went non-stop for more than a decade. During the years 1992-2002, Kristi toured with Stars on Ice, won numerous professional competitions, frequently appeared on television specials and collaborated with several choreographers to create diverse programs. From 2003-2009, Kristi headlined her own NBC television special, Kristi Yamaguchi Friends and Family. Kristi was the Digital Ambassador for the U.S. Olympic Committee for the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi as well as a Today Show correspondent.
One of Kristi’s lasting legacies will be her Always Dream Foundation (www.AlwaysDream.org) founded in 1996. Committed to the belief that early childhood literacy is the foundation on which all academic and life success is built, the Foundation has set its sights on improving access by children of low-income families to books and technology.