Jean Lefebvre made the trip to Athens from Delaware, Ohio, for her 10th Ohio University Moms Weekend in a row.
Her three children all attended OU, and her youngest, Jimmy Lefebvre, a senior studying industrial and systems engineering, will graduate this year.
The Lefebvres partake in some of their own traditions for Moms Weekend, similar to the other moms who make the trip to see their children.
On Saturdays, Jean goes to the farmer’s market and almost always buys a piece of pottery from the sale put on by the school of art.
“(The pottery is) something that I'll give the pieces to the kids as a sort of remembrance from their college days,” Jean said.
Another event moms attended with their Bobcats was the “Don’t Tell Dad” comedy show. The show featured a cast of all-women comedians.
Diana Cokal drove from the Cleveland area to see her daughter Alexa Schulze, a sophomore studying accounting, and the two watched the comedy show. Cokal liked “the energy the women gave out to the audience.”
Some of the comedic material was sexual, and Cokal said she was a little embarrassed watching it with her daughter. She had to ask her daughter what some of the lingo meant, but she still enjoyed the show.
“It was fun just to hear her laugh,” Cokal said. “She has a cute little laugh.”
Schulze enjoyed the performance by the a cappella group Title IX. It was the group’s first appearance at the women’s comedy show. Schulze thought it was fun hanging out with her mom, but said it’s unusual seeing her “immersed” in the college atmosphere.
A Native American jewelry sale took place at the Kennedy Museum of Art, located at The Ridges. Meg Toomey, a co-owner of Good Girl Jewelry, comes to the museum two times a year as a fundraiser for the Kennedy Museum’s education projects.
“(The jewelry) works nicely with the museum,” Toomey said. “The have a southwest Indian jewelry collection and also a tremendous rug collection, and it was a nice compliment.”
On the Friday of Moms Weekend, Jean goes to Jackie O’s with her children to eat and enjoy a drink on the patio. Even though the rain came down Friday, Jean and Jimmy were able to locate a dry spot and enjoy their time together.
“I go out with my mom like I go out with my friends, and it’s just a fun time,” Jimmy said. “I never feel like she’s hindering me — I feel like she’s just adding to the time.”
Jean appreciates the quality time she spends with her children and likes to see them grow throughout their four years at college.
On Saturday night, Jean and her children stayed in and invited friends over to play games and eat food. She embraces her children’s friends like they are part of the family, she added.
“You don’t have to drink. There are a lot of fun things that you can do without doing that,” Jean said. “People always think it’s about the party, right?”
Rebecca Wojcinski contributed to this report.
