Mothers Treated to Tea at Tovashal Elementary

Five-year-old Coleman Howe thinks his mom is the best mom in the world because she's pretty, she makes good burgers and he likes to clean the house with her.

Erin Capen, 5, thinks her mom is the best because she "loves me all the way to heaven."

Daniel Pindeda ranks his mom high "because she helps me clean my room."

Coleman, Erin and Daniel were among 117 kindergarteners at in Murrieta who let their moms know just how much they admire them by treating them to a special Mother's Day Tea on Friday.

Extra care was taken to ensure each student had a guest of honor—even those who don't have a mother at home.

Matt Colich, 27, a single father, came out to share the time with his 6-year-old son, Daniel. He said his son's teacher, Cherryl Knudsen, made sure he felt welcome.

"Invitations were sent home to all the parents, and then she set aside the time to call me two or three days ago," Colich said. "She told me someone had to fill the chair but that I was more than welcome—being a single dad—to come and join."

Colich said he "felt a little out of place," but that feeling disappeared when he was presented a masculine paper sombrero in lieu of flowery, pink paper bonnets donned by mothers.

Daniel was happy to have his dad there.

"I knew it was going to be exciting," Daniel said.

The kindergartners performed a song and dance while their guests were seated. Mothers were presented with paper flowers and handwritten booklets, and there were tea and cookies awaiting all on lace- and doily-draped tables.

As part of the festivities, parents and students waited in line to have their moment captured by a volunteer photographer.

Tovashal kindergarten teacher Jacque Howe helped organize the tea. Because her son, Coleman, attends kindergarten at the school she was also treated to the pampering.

The Mother's Day Tea is a tradition at Tovashal, and one that took some work to keep this year, she said.

"We almost didn't have one this year because of the costs, but we pulled it off," Howe said.

This was thanks to donations from Chik-fil-A for the tea, and Ralphs and Fresh & Easy for the cookies.

"It is always something special the moms look forward to each year," Howe said.

Mother Irene Capen can vouch for that. She works full time for the Air Force, but arranged her schedule to attend.

"It is always a lot of fun, I couldn't miss this," Capen said.

Teachers were amazed at the turnout.

"It shows they are truly dedicated to their children," Howe said, "It shows they are respectful of this special mommy-and-me time, because many of them had to find babysitters or get off work to be here."