wesome MOMS
Celebrating
BY CHRISTINA MUSHI-BRUNT . PHOTOS PROVIDED.
M ore than 60 metro moms were nominated for our annual Awesome Moms contest, and we are inspired by each of their stories. Thanks to everyone who submitted nominations this year! Celebrate the stories of all our nominees by visiting metrofamilymagazine.com/2024-awesome-moms. Thank you to our Awesome Moms prize sponsors: Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Downtown, The Spa at 10 North, Redrock Canyon Grill, Mama Roja, Hefner Grill and Upper Crust Wood Fired Pizza.
Congratulations to the 2024 Awesome Moms winner and finalists!
was soon adopted, her parents divorced when she was 3. She spent the next 11 years experiencing extensive abuse from her adoptive mother and returned to state custody at 14. At 21, Tyler became pregnant. “I can honestly say … she saved my life,” said Tyler of her daughter. Tyler’s 13-year-old daughter, Tia, whom she describes as a “fireball,” is neurodivergent. “What I love about her is that she doesn’t identify with the diagnosis,” said Tyler. “She just beats to the rhythm of her own drum.” Tia plays the trumpet, plays soccer and loves to travel. The two began traveling together following Tia’s fifth birthday party. “We threw this big party,” recalls Tyler. “At the end of it, she said, ‘I don’t want to do that again.’” Ever since, the two travel to different parts of the country to celebrate Tia’s birthday. For Tyler, creating memories with Tia is vital because positive memories are glaringly missing from her own childhood. Tyler also shares the love of her job with Tia. She is the accounting director for Daily Living Centers, a nonprofit adult day services provider in central Oklahoma. Tia can occasionally be found playing bingo with or serving lunch to those who attend the facility. Tyler and Tia’s strong relationship is apparent to those at the center. “Tyler always does a tremendous job at work but always makes sure her daughter is [her]
number one priority,” wrote Amanda, Tyler’s boss, in her Awesome Moms nomination of Tyler. Tyler also credits Tia with sparking her hobby as a skilled woodworker. While pregnant, Tyler couldn’t find nursery furniture she liked. Longing for something unique, she bought a crib and restored it. Tyler started making her own furniture from watching YouTube and virtual woodworking classes and then began teaching classes. Tyler even participated in a nationwide DIY Network online contest and reached the top 10 contestants. Tyler’s woodworking and her friends have helped her survive difficult circumstances as an adult. Following a miscarriage, she built herself a bed. However, unlike the dark days of her childhood, she wasn’t alone in this project. “My friends came over … none of them knew how to use power tools or anything … but they came over to help,” recalls Tyler. Friends like these are whom Tyler now calls family. They have offered support at every turn. Diagnosed with stage two gastric cancer in 2020, Tyler underwent chemotherapy and radiation all while still building and teaching classes. Now in remission, Tyler still undergoes maintenance chemo treatments. “Why do I continue to survive and why haven’t I given up? I honestly can say it’s because I am a mom,” said Tyler with conviction. “It’s because of my child that I was put on this Earth.”
WINNER Tyler Hill
After a turbulent childhood and through a battle with cancer, motherhood is what has given Tyler Hill the strength to transcend life’s trials and provides her ongoing hope. Tyler was born a survivor. She was born addicted to crack cocaine and immediately placed into state custody. Although she
12 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAY-JUNE 2024
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online