Through strength and love, mothers inspire at Rise and Shine Breakfast

Director of the Upper School Frances Fondren-Bales was scrolling through Instagram when a reel caught her eye. It read,

“They say your daughter will always carry a piece of you, but the truth is you carry a piece of her too. Science shows that during pregnancy, tiny cells from the baby stay inside you for life. They've been found in mothers’ hearts, her brain, and even her bones. It's called microchimerism. It's a reminder that she didn't just grow under your heart, she became part of it.  Even as she grows, even when she's too big for your arms, she's still real, always."

This message resonated with Ms. Fondren-Bales, a mom to a young daughter. The same bond she feels to her little girl filled the room at this year’s Rise and Shine Breakfast, where Harpeth Hall’s upper school students and the special women in their lives gathered to celebrate connection, gratitude, and love.

Among those sharing reflections was senior Kelty Jones, who spoke about the secret language she shares with her mom, one that is uniquely theirs.

“It's only three words — no, not ‘I love you’, but instead, ‘love you love,’” Kelty said. “Long before I knew how direct objects worked, I knew this phrase held weight beyond its length. It was a promise we made, and still make today — to not just love each other but to do so with the tangible gift of love itself.”

In 2024, with the release of the movie “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig inspired girls around the world to ask themselves, “What was I made for?” It’s a question Kelty has found herself reflecting on as she embraces her final year at Harpeth Hall.

“I haven't quite figured out my answer in all its glory, but thanks to my mom, what I do know is it will involve ruthlessly seeking out what brings me joy,” Kelty said. “I also know, thanks to many of the Harpeth Hall mothers I've learned to emulate, it will include living a life of true grit through the dark and deeply overwhelming days. …one of the most sacred gifts Harpeth Hall has to offer is that if we can't rely on a strong bond of trust with a maternal figure at home, it will more than be provided the moment we walk onto campus.”

She continued, “It is a truth commonly accepted around here that Harpeth Hall has the concept of sisterhood down pat. Don a polo and some plaid, and anyone you meet once you walk through these doors will support you unconditionally. However, in my seven years and six weeks spent here, the bastion of motherhood, too, has revealed itself to me, often in its truest form: quiet and steadfast strength.”

When senior Kaki Gooch took the podium, she continued on that theme, reflecting on the strength she finds in her mother.

“My mom is the strongest person I know,” Kaki reflected. “She has genuinely carried me through every single challenging period of my life.”

When her father suffered a stroke, Kaki relied on the comfort and steadfast support of her mother. Through the hard days and long nights of worry, her mother was there, her strength holding Kaki up.

Strength is a common theme in how Harpeth Hall girls view their community and describe the women who raised and inspired them.

Mary Britton Cummings '93, mother to senior Adelaide and 8th grade student Cecelia, reflected on that shared legacy, one that spans generations of Harpeth Hall women. Not only did Ms. Cummings graduate from Harpeth Hall, so did her mother, aunt, sister, and sister-in-law. Not to mention, her husband’s grandmother was a Ward-Belmont graduate.

“As I look around this room, I see so many of you that have the same story that I do,” Ms. Cummings said. “We were formed and shaped by women who were formed and shaped in this special place. …The very best gift I was given from my mother and from this place is to know that I am unconditionally loved for who I am and who I am becoming.”

Harpeth Hall, Ms. Cummings reflected, encourages women rather than criticizes them, inspires rather than limits them, and builds community rather than isolates individuals.

“The world tells us that we are adversaries and that we must tear each other down to be seen and heard, but here we are taught to celebrate the achievements of our fellow sisters… we recognize that we are stronger together.”

As the program came to an end, Kaki’s parting words to the mothers and mentors who fill the Harpeth Hall community with love and strength left a lasting impression on the room.

“I want to address all of the moms in the room today, especially the ones who are about to watch their daughters be handed their diplomas this May,” she said. “You're almost done. Your 18-year-long projects are about to be complete, and you'll soon have to surrender us all to the test of the real world. You no longer have to be a perfect mother and shield us from all the troubles in the world because we're ready to face them.”

Likewise, Ms. Cummings had a message for the girls.

“Before you know it, you too will leave this place and make your own mark on this world. I hope that, like me, you will carry the lessons you are learning today to inspire the next generation to live with grit, determination, authenticity, self-confidence, genuine camaraderie, and unconditional love.”