For 14 years, daughters, mothers and mother figures have gathered for a day of learning, connection, and celebration at the Socorro Independent School District’s Growing Together’ Mother-Daughter Conference.
At this year’s annual event on Jan. 25, 700 participants, including Lidia Hernandez and her daughter Gala Hernandez, gathered at Montwood High School to celebrate their relationships and build lasting bonds.
Lidia Hernandez said the conference was a wonderful opportunity for her and her daughter to get to know each other better through fun activities such as dancing to K-pop and learning how to fence.
“It is important because I get to spend time with her alone, and we talk about different things,” Lidia Hernandez said about her daughter, Gala Hernandez, a seventh grader at Jane Hambric School.
“I learned more about her, what she thinks, what she wants, what she feels, and I learned a lot today about her,” Lidia Hernandez added.
The one-day event provided a valuable opportunity for girls in grades six through 12 to connect with their mothers or mother figures in meaningful ways. Participants engaged in a variety of activities, including fitness and dance classes and attended workshops focused on financial literacy, strengthening mother-daughter relationships, emotional management and more.
They also explored potential college pathways and learned about career options in fields such as music, healthcare and computer science.
Gala Hernandez said that spending the day having fun with her mom helped her to understand her mom a little better.
“I like to spend time with her a lot, and it's really fun because I get to do stuff just one-on-one, and it's nice to have just like one parent and just spend time with them individually because you learn a lot from them, and you also talk to them and stuff, and it's fun,” Gala Hernandez said.
Victoria Olivia Isais, an award-winning realtor and author of “Love Life and Life Will Love You Back,” delivered an inspiring keynote speech that had attendees crying, laughing and dancing.
She shared her experiences as a mom, first as a teenage mom and later as an adult when she had her second daughter. She encouraged mothers to not only talk to their daughters but also to actively listen to them.
“Put the phone down, ask the questions, hug your daughter. When we know better, we love better,” Isais said.
Adam Starke, Ed.D., SISD director of State and Federal Programs, said that the conference allowed moms and their teenage daughters to strengthen their bond through a variety of hands-on activities.
“It's extremely important because what we are doing through a parent and family engagement lens and perspective is allowing our secondary girls from grades 6 through 12 and their mothers or mother figures to have an opportunity to bond, to have an opportunity to do things that strengthen bonds and do nice things together,” Starke said.
Ashley Motta, a sophomore at Pebble Hills High School, said spending time with her mom making bracelets and learning about financial literacy at the event brought them closer together.
“A lot of teenagers in high school try to get away from their families, and I think it's good to have those connections with your parents,” Motta said.
Motta’s mom, Irma Ortega, said the conference provided a valuable opportunity for them to spend quality time together, especially as Ashley prepares to go to college.
“It's a way for us to get a little bit closer. Just to have the one-on-one that we don't usually get to have and maybe add a little bit of space to open a little bit to each other,” Motta said.