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Moms Celebrated: A Mother's Day Conversation with Debbie Howard
Episode 58 • 22 min listen • May 2026 • Mother’s Day • Caregiving • Legacy
Hosted by Kay McDonald • Founder, Charity Charms
Halfway through this Mother’s Day episode of the Power of Charms, Kay reaches off-camera and pulls out a piece of jewelry Debbie hadn’t seen in years: their grandmother’s charm necklace. It holds 13 charms – one for every grandchild – grouped by family. Their grandmother made it. Decades later, Kay is the keeper.
That’s the kind of object Charity Charms is built around – a small piece of metal that carries a whole family in it. And it’s the perfect frame for a conversation between two cousins about the mothers they grew up with, the women they became, and what gets left behind.
“Both of our mothers were independent. They both had their own careers. They were strong.”
What you'll hear
- How Maryanne went from executive secretary to Fortune 500 purchasing agent in the early 1970s
- Why Sydna was still going to water aerobics and balancing the church books at 91
- The “canary in the morning” – a hot lemon water ritual passed down two generations
- Practical home modifications that make a house safer for an aging parent
- Why traveling with an older parent takes more planning, and is worth every minute
- Small rituals for honoring a mother who’s no longer here
A few moments worth pausing for
04:35
The college story
When Maryanne realized her daughter was a few dollars over the line for a scholarship, she didn’t accept it. The lesson Debbie carried: where there’s a will, there’s a way.
14:11
The night in New Orleans
Kay, Debbie, and Sydna at the Mean-Eyed Cat. Sydna was the one saying, “Let’s go to the jazz club tonight.” What good caregiving looks like in practice.
19:34
Mom mannerisms
Kay catches herself rubbing her feet on the couch the way her mom used to.
“Mom is in my feet.”
Episode Timestamps
| 02:30 Maryanne, the Mad Men years, and the climb to Fortune 500 |
| 07:15 Sydna at 91 – water aerobics and the church books |
| 10:30 Resilience, financial responsibility, and what mothers teach by example |
| 12:30 Making your home age-friendly: stoves, rugs, and bathroom rails |
| 16:00 The grandmother’s charm necklace |
| 18:00 New traditions for honoring a mother who’s no longer here |
For Mother’s Day
Sterling Silver 'Fashionista' Charm
Small, specific, ready to wear. Add it to a chain she already has, pair it with one of our bracelets or necklaces, or send it on its own with a card.
About Sydna and Maryanne
Sydna was a realtor, broadcaster, travel agent, and EDS executive. She went back to school mid-career. She traveled until she couldn’t. She passed in November 2024. Maryanne raised three daughters on her own starting in 1972 and worked her way up from executive secretary to purchasing agent at a Fortune 500 company. She passed 18 years ago. They were sisters-in-law and best friends.
About the Guest
Debbie Howard
Founder, Aging Matters International
Debbie Howard is a former caregiver who served as both long-distance and live-in caregiver during her mom’s dying days in South Carolina, while running her Tokyo-based market research consultancy. With the launch of AMI (Aging Matters International), Debbie brings her market research and communications acumen to the world of caregiving. Debbie is an author, speaker, and founder of Aging Matters International, TheCareGivingJourney.com, TheCareGivingCrisis.com, and Women Who Care.
After You Listen
Sterling Silver 'Fashionista' Charm
Small, specific, ready-to-wear. Add it to a chain she already has, pair it with one of our bracelets, or send it on its own with a card.
Debbie's Books
The Caregiving Journey, which supports individuals in managing caregiving with ease and grace, or The Caregiving Crisis, guides companies with practical ways to support employee caregivers.
Caregiving Resources
Practical guidance from Aging Matters International. Find tips and support for every stage of the journey for individuals and companies looking to support employees.
Click here for: Individuals / Companies
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