‘She was my strength to keep going’: ESM Army mom surprises daughter with homecoming at school

Watch this mother surprise her daughter in the Pine Grove Middle School cafeteria

MANLIUS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The longest a local mother and daughter ever had to be apart was two weeks. Now imagine five months.

Bri Mumley, Army Private First Class, said goodbye to her daughter, Adrienne Shelley in April.

“She was my motivation, she was my strength to keep going,” Mumley told NewsChannel 9. “I just remembered my ‘why.’ Why I joined, why I was there.”

She was sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for 10 weeks, then, took a 20-hour bus ride to Fort Jackson, South Carolina for another 10 weeks.

But a long time apart was put to rest with an even better reunion.

When she knew she was coming home, she reached out to Pine Grove Middle School’s principal, Ashleigh Wilson.

Wilson explained that she and Mumley had been going back and forth, working to plan the surprise while simultaneously keeping it a secret from almost everyone. Only a select few faculty knew what was going on, and none of the students were told anything. Wilson wanted to keep the surprise tight-lipped.

The ploy was a fake “teacher” would be recognized during the seventh-grade lunch, which is when Adrienne eats. The staff then drew Adrienne’s attention in the opposite direction, which is when Mumley snuck in from behind.

She came in with an Army-themed Build-A-Bear, some balloons and arms ready to hug her daughter.

Adrienne had no idea when her mom would be coming home. Her only lead was that she would be back in town “sometime that month.” The last time they’d spoken was a handful of days prior, and even when they can talk, it’s a phone call only.

In the video, you see Adrienne pop up from her chair and head right over to her mom. They embrace each other lovingly and continually say “hi” to one another.

Up on stage, students — who had believed their efforts were for a teacher appreciation — had made thank you signs. Each one held a letter and stood on the stage accordingly, spelling out the words “thank you.” Eventually, Adrienne and Mumley went up there and were greeted with cheers and roars from the students in the cafeteria.

With a grin on her face, and proudly standing next to her mom, Adrienne explained that she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “I turned and I went to hug her, and I didn’t want people to see me because I was going to cry,” she continued.

“I did cry a little bit,” responded Mumley.

“I heard you,” said Adrienne.

“If I have to do 10 push-ups when I get back I will take it,” Mumley replied.

NewsChannel 9 asked Mumley if she had some words to say to Adrienne before she saw her, and her response was, “Don’t give up, ever. Don’t give up. It’s tough at the moment, but the moment passes and you get stronger because of it.”

As for Adrienne, her advice to take away from her mom being in the Army consisted of, “If I am having a bad day, I am definitely like, ‘Mom is having a worse one’.”

Now that the two are back together, Mumley said she plans to take Adrienne to lunch. It’s a toss-up between Chili’s and Tully’s. Either way, enjoy!

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