Brenda Warner

Mother of Zachary, 21; Jesse Jo, 18; Kade, 11; Jada Jo, 9; Elijah, 6; and twins, Sierra and Sienna, 4

Brenda Warner begins each weekday at 6:30 a.m. with a wake-up call to six of her seven children (her oldest daughter Jesse Jo is now a freshman at New York University) to get up, get dressed and grab breakfast before attending to her special needs son, Zachary. And with one hour to get the kids out the door and onto the school bus, the Warner household is anything but calm. “By the time 9 a.m. rolls around, you’re ready for a nap,” says this former United States marine and wife of Kurt Warner, retired Arizona Cardinals quarterback. “It’s not for everyone, but it’s all we know and we find the joy in it.”

For Warner, her family is her number one priority. She works hard to instill great values in her children and smiles when she sees her efforts in their actions. For example, Jesse Jo is involved in her university’s “Best Buddies” program that aids special needs adults. “I think, ‘Yup, we are down the right path,’” Warner says.

To show their love and appreciation this Mother’s Day, Warner’s children will be taking a hands-on approach: “I am going to make [my mom] a bracelet because she always likes when I make her bracelets,” Jada Jo says. Kade plans to make pottery for his mom. As for Jesse Jo, heading home this Mother’s Day is all about time together. “I miss drinking coffee together in our pajamas,” she says. “I have only begun to appreciate that now that I have moved out.” —C.W.