For years, Lawrence Guy would do countless things in the community, with one of those being a shower for new or expectant mothers around Mother’s Day.
Well, with Guy now gone, it’s Davon Godchaux and his wife Chanel keeping the tradition alive through the Chauxdown Foundation.
On a beautiful Thursday morning at Gillette Stadium, the Godchaux’s hosted a brunch for 45 mothers or soon-to-be mothers and also gifted them all brand new strollers.
“It means a lot. I saw Lawrence Guy and his wife did it and it really means a lot to me to give back to the mothers,” Godchaux said in a small media scrum at the event. “They go through a lot raising kids. Some are single mothers. It just means a lot to me giving back to the community, the city, Boston, Foxborough, just giving back to all the mothers in need.
“Lawrence and his wife did a great job with it and just kind of seeing him…we got the news he wasn’t going to be here anymore. I kind of put the idea, me and my wife like, ‘we should continue this,’ it was always very special for them to give back to the mothers in the community. We kind of just didn’t want to let the tradition die. We wanted to uphold it and I think with my wife it’s something annual we’ll continue to do.”
Godchaux also talked about the role his mother played in his life growing up and the impact she had in a unique situation with two brothers and three sisters.
“Single parent of six,” he said. “So, (she played) a big role, she taught me everything. Respect. Yes ma’am, no ma’am. So, this was big for me and I know she’s smiling at me right now back home in Louisiana having this event. She always wanted us to be tough. We were rough, me and my brothers, backyard football running around, hitting each other in the head just kind of being tough.
“My mom just kind of allowed us to just be boys and play. Any time I can have an event like this with my wife, it’s a no-brainer…even my sisters were rough. They’re a little older than me, but we all get into fights and all that, so it was all fun and games.”
Godchaux acknowledged that the event hits even closer to home now after just having a baby girl (Capri Summer).
“I’m a girl dad now, so it’s different,” he added with a smile. “My teammates always told me in the past, if you have a girl it’s going to hit you different. You can definitely feel the effect. I’m proud to have both my kids, but just something special about having a girl.
“My son, I can be rough with him, play football with him, but that girl is different. It’s kind of dear towards your heart.”