Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a mother who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a woman and a mother. Above all, the Mom of the Month is dedicated to her children. Rich or poor, famous or not, she shines as an example of what mothering is all about.

Our choice for June is Karen Hawkins, mother of two sons.

"I love kids and critters and tolerate most adults." A philosophy Karen Hawkins, mother of 14-year-old Clayton and 19-year-old Jason, lives by.

"I have always loved kids, lots of them," says Karen. "I grew up knowing I would birth my children at home." Karen has always felt hospitals were for sick people, and does not consider giving birth an illness. "Hoping not to offend those who prefer to use the wonderful technology of the hospital," she adds.

Karen wanted a dozen kids, and life had a funny way of meeting her expectations. "Instead of birthing a whole dozen myself physically, I 'birthed' quite a few 'through my kitchen door.'" Over the last 15 years, despite the struggles of raising her two sons as a single parent, Karen let more than 30 foster children call her small farm in southwestern Maine home.

"I have had over about 30 foster children over a 15-year span of time," says Karen. "I have had up to five foster children at a time, in addition to my own two biological children." Having five at once was a special situation for Karen. Just before Christmas about six years ago, she got a call from the local police department asking her to take two more children, though she had the maximum number allowed by law. The state allowed Karen to take these children because they had nowhere else to place them -- a problem that grows worse every year.

According to the Administration for Children and Families, a department within the Department of Health and Human Services, there are more than 520,000 children in foster care as of March 1998. Many of these children will return safely to their homes, but more than 100,000 cannot.

Karen says that years ago her advice to those thinking of becoming foster parents would be to make sure you have a stable relationship with your spouse before taking in a child. "These kids are very canny at working each adult against the other to suit the child's whims," she says. "They have had to become adept to being masters of their world because their world has been so far out of their control. They grasp whatever at whatever control they can get. . .foster parents are perfect targets."

Today, Karen's advice would be to document everything. She also suggests reading "Out of Control" by Brenda Scott. "It gives a lot of insight into the system itself and its downside," she says. Karen, who admits to being outspoken when it comes to the needs of her children, ended up having a few "problems" with the administration and no longer provides foster care. But she still takes in an occasional homeless child in her area.

Karen's two sons were both born at home. Jason, who will be 20 this summer, is the father of 2-year-old Ezra. "He is the father of the most wonderful son. I'm not boasting -- just relating facts," Karen says, as only a grandmother could. Though Jason's relationship with Ezra's mom did not work out, Jason sees his son and participates in his life as much as possible. "They work very hard at positive inter-relations for Ezra's sake. He comes to visit here almost every weekend, which I love!"

Clayton, who just turned 14, was homeschooled by his mom for a couple of years. At his request he returned to public school where he has been an honor student, despite missing a lot of school due to health problems. "Clayton aspires to be a veterinarian -- he loves animals and helps me care for the wildlife brought to us." Karen has been a state and Federal licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the past 20 years. Her 6-and-a-half acre farm consists of "a menagerie of critters. Clayton insists he will take over the farm when I am no longer able to, which always brings a smile to my face."

Karen's two sons bring a smile to her face quite often. "I have always heard the nicest compliments from other people about both my sons, which pleases me to no end," she says. "People tell me they are considerate, respectful and well-liked." Karen says she understands her sons needing to occasionally "let loose," and admits she can be the "mother from hell. I have tried to be fair in my expectations of them. I have always encouraged them to try their best and have not expected perfection."

When she is not spending time with her sons or grandson, Karen can be found volunteering with animal-assisted activities and educational programs with primates and various wildlife; visiting group homes, nursing homes, Boy Scout clubs and schools; mentoring for local "at-risk" teens; serving as Treasurer for Bridgton Methodist Church; serving on the volunteer staff at Café Dove Teen Center; and managing a primate list serve, as well as writing about primates at Suite101, to name just a few.

From 1990 to 1996, Karen ran the Pasos Bailandos Therapeutic Riding Center on her farm. "I was Executive Director and riding instructor of this therapeutic riding program for six years." Karen used her own Paso Fino horses for this endeavor. The program, which provided innovative therapy to people with physical and emotional disabilities, was forced to shut down due to lack of volunteers.

Karen has been given several awards over the years. In 1990 she was awarded the "Volunteer Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Service"; she has received a number of awards from schools for her leadership; in 1994 the Bridgton's townspeople selected her as the "New England Person of the Week"; and in 1992 Karen was honored by being nominated for the Jefferson Award.

"Inside it warms me to know people appreciate what I do, but I do it only because it feels like the right thing to do," she says. "I have strived to live a life that is a living testimony to how God want us to live. I hope I can be an example to inspire others to live a similar life of giving. The old saying 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you' is how I choose to live my life."