HOST JACKIE TANTILLO - She Had A Heart Of Gold with Guest Teacher and Author Claire Sinclair

 To say that Claire Sinclair is  generous with her time, is an understatement.  She's been a teacher for decades.   And currently she's  teaching kindergarten in the same classroom at the same elementary school she attended.    

What's interesting about how our conversation began is that both Claire and her mother  attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, NJ and both women married their high school sweethearts, just decades apart.

Claire shares stories of the similarities of she and her mom and how much it means to her that so many people from her community still hold her mother close to their heart. Claire's mother, 'Ellie,'  was known as "The Duck Lady" in Maplewood/South Orange NJ. What she started many years ago as a simple race in a brook with plastic ducks has grown to raising tens of thousands of dollars annually for different organizations that help and support kids, ie Kiwanis, Scouts, YMCA, etc. 

Ellie's mom, Claire's maternal grandmother,  passed away when Ellie was in her 20's. When Ellie's father remarried, there was no real love between she and her step mother so she moved in with one of her favorite aunts, Aunt Fay, her birth mother's sister, who ran a preschool out of her home. Ellie had interests in nursing and/or becoming a teacher but her career was cut short when it was time to start a family. 

Claire says "she likes to dabble in a little bit of everything, just like her mom."  Claire is involved in community awareness when it comes to food insecure families. She volunteers regularly at local food pantries distributing food as well as keeping her young students involved by organizing can drives at the elementary school. As a board member for MEND, Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity, located throughout Essex County, NJ, Claire regularly sees families in need of help and like her mom, it's hard for her to say no to helping others.

Claire is the administrator of a Facebook Group, 'Habitual Gratitude 365' where she shares daily prompts of things that her multitude of followers are grateful for. Again, like her mom, and as a mother, she loves to help others in need.

Claire's mother passed away in 2013 but she's left an imprint on the community.  Claire was lucky enough to have one last phone call from her mom and she's so happy that she picked up that call.

Claire also has a  park bench in Maplewood Memorial Park, which was dedicated to her mother, by the community, nestled nicely right beside the brook where Ellie started her very first Memorial Day 'Duck Race.' That's where Claire goes on a regular basis to feel her mother's support, love and guidance.

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Claire Sinclair's Recent book:

The Mice Wo Came to Story Time

Facebook Page:Habitual Gratitude 365

LinkedIn: Claire Sinclair

"Should Have Listened To My Mother" is an ongoing conversation about mothers and the roles they play in our lives. And my guests answer the question, 'are you who you are today because of, or in spite of, your mother'? You'll be amazed at what the responses are.

"Should Have Listened To My Mother" would not be possible without the generosity, sincerity and insight from my guests. In getting ready to launch my podcast, so many were willing to give their time and share their personal relationships with their mother.

Some of my guests include Baritone Singer Christopheren Nomura, Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Tim Wacker, Activist Kim Miller, Freighter Sea Captain Terry Viscount, Film Production Manager Peg Robinson, Professor of Writing Montclair State University Dr. Bridget Brown, Tammy Steckler, attorney and family advocate @CUNY Law; NYC First Responder/NYC Firefighter Mark Heingartner, Child and Adult Special Needs Activist, Maryellen Valyo Cole and Roger Evens, Property Manager in New Jersey and so many more talented and insightful women and men.

I've worked in the broadcasting industry for over four decades. I've interviewed so many fascinating people including musicians, celebrities, authors, activists, entrepreneurs, politicians and more.

A big thank you goes to Ricky Soto, NYC based Graphic Designer, who created my logo for "Should Have Listened To My Mother".

Check out my website for more background information: https://www.jackietantillo.com/

Or more demos of what's to come at https://soundcloud.com/jackie-tantillo

Find audio versions of the podcast here: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/

Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/60j14qCcks4AP3JUrWrc2M

Link to website and show notes: https://shltmm.simplecast.com/

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