Listen to Melissa: If you do not know how to handle a situation, odds are you can trust Melissa Barbay to have good advice

“I am not going to tell you what to do, but here is what you should do.”

This is Melissa Barbay’s favorite saying, and it encapsulates perfectly who she is. She is someone who loves people with all her heart, and she is an encourager. She pushes people to be the best version of themselves, and for that she is appreciated.

Melissa is also appreciated for all the memories she’s made with her family. From her blackberry cobbler and chicken fried steak confessions to the sour-cream-on-the-face-at-Taco-Bell incident, Melissa is constantly reminding those around her that life is full of precious moments. There are also the moments where she turns into Schlitterbahn Melissa, avoids theme park rides at all costs, thinks she is the best driver in the world, and is dubbed to be her best friend’s mother or lover.

All in all, life with Melissa is unforgettable.

And on top of her knack for making memories, Melissa has a knack for being the best mother in the world, according to her husband and children. She would do anything for Maggie and Natalie, and Melissa is always present. She shows up when they need her most, and she is a vocal supporter of theirs.

“She is never too hard on us,” Maggie said. “She allows us to make mistakes, but still wants the best for us. She drove us everywhere growing up, and she never missed an event for us.”

Melissa encourages her loved ones to reach for greatness. She wants them to be unafraid of having dreams and goals, as she herself has done the same. That’s why she is an expert counselor, and why people look up to her.

Melissa is a wonderful wife on top of this all. She is someone who loves her husband, Darrell, more than anything, and he loves all she has done for him.

“She’s made me a better person,” Darrell said. “I have become the biggest animal person over the years because of her. She’s really made me a better person with what she’s done, I believe. She is a wonderful mother. She single handedly pretty much raised those kids herself.”

Darrell is a football coach, so a lot of evenings when his daughters got home from school, he would be at practice or coaching a game. He knows his better half was right there with them making sure they did not miss a beat, and he considers Melissa to be the “mother of the world” because of this.

Melissa is their beach-loving, mimosa-sipping travel agent who stays active playing pickleball, watching comedy shows and finding new recipes to try. She is hilarious and a good friend to all. She listens and is extremely smart, and her personality as a whole is extremely appreciated.

“There is no one else that my sister and I would rather have as our mom. She is the best, and we love her.” – Maggie