Amy DuBois Barnett, former Editor-in-Chief of Ebony Magazine, sat down recently with BET Networks to talk with us about Mother’s Day.

To begin, Amy shared that she lives by her mother’s example every day. “My mom was so amazing,” she says.

So, what does being a mom mean to Amy? In her own words, “It means patience. It means patience more than anything else. After a full day at work surrounded by people wanting your attention or needing something from you – needing your input, wanting your advice – you’ve really given yourself to your career. You’ve got to come home at the end of the day and be accessible and loving and fully present for your child. You have to understand that your child doesn’t know or doesn’t care what you’ve been going through all day at work, they just want their mommy.”

Sadly, Amy was only 22 years old when her mom passed away at the age of 49. Amy describes Mother’s Day as an interesting day. “It’s a little bittersweet for me because I lost my own mom at such a young age,” she explains.

While Amy feels her mother’s absence every Mother’s Day, she is quick to point out the joy she has for her child. “I am able to celebrate bringing this little person into the world, and I also mourn the loss of somebody who was so influential for me,” Amy shares.

Amy is actively working to ensure her son makes a positive difference. She says, “I think being a mom also means the way that you’re impacting future generations with the kind of child that you’re raising. Part of what I’m hoping to do is to make a positive impact on the world through this amazing young man that I’m hoping to send out on his way once he’s done with his mom.”

This Mother’s Day, join us as we honor the legacy of Amy’s mom and celebrate the positive change Amy is actively promoting through her son.