NATIONAL PARENTS’ DAY IN OREGON

Editor’s Note: While WFWP was instrumental in nominating the parents of the year in Washington, DC at the National Parents’ Day event this July (read more here), WFWP chapters around the nation also supported local Parents’ Day celebrations. In this article, Stephanie Herremans, representing the WFWP chapter in Cascade, Oregon, shares how she nominated one outstanding couple as parents of the year.

This year, my dear friends Sarita and Alex Ahmed received the Parents of the Year award at the 2019 National Parents’ Day celebration in Oregon on August 13th.

I first met Sarita and Alex at one of the auto repair shops they own and operate in the heart of Vancouver, Washington. I was inspired by their strong family values and soon became friends with the pair.

They have been married for 33 years and raised five children, who are all working adults now and yet maintain strong bonds with their parents. This loving couple practices faith-based living and helped their children understand that all religions are to be respected and appreciated.

They also taught them how to form meaningful and lasting relationships with others: “We are passionate about kids having both book smarts and street smarts, letting children explore outside and make friends.”

The essence of their parenting has been the passion to guide their children to pursue their own dreams. After investing a great deal to send them to college, they continued to mentor them in their careers as they established their own successful businesses.

We thank Sarita and Alex for being exemplary parents in their community and strive to celebrate and recognize more parents like them around the nation.