Maria Shriver says she is still talking to the late mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver: exclusive

More than 15 years after her mother’s death, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Maria Shriver continues to feel her presence.

“I’m still talking to my mom all the time,” sharing Maria with people in an exclusive new interview. “I seek her advice and often I can hear her voice. I think she would just be really proud of me. I really hope she is proud of me. I have always wanted to make her proud.”

Maria lovingly writes about her mother in her new poetry book, I’m MaryReflected on the bands they shared and how it shaped who she is today.

“She loved all my books,” Maria notes. “She always went to the bookstores and moved my books at the front so people could see them and buy them. She would often talk to the bookstore and tell them that she is my mother and that they should prioritize my books. I will miss her to do it for this book.”

Eunice died on August 10, 2009, just two weeks before the death of her youngest brother, Edward “Ted” Kennedy. She was 88.

“I can hear her now:” Have you bought Maria’s new book? Did you know that she is a poet now? Do you want her book? Wait, I give you one if you promise to buy one too, ‘”says Maria. “She was my biggest supporter, my biggest motivator. She was a force and she would also drive me to do things that I didn’t think I could do.”

The motivating spirit earned Eunice – the fifth of nine children in the famous Kennedy -Family – In the impressive philanthropic work, she did throughout her life.

In 1962, Eunice Camp Shriver founded a summer day camp at her Maryland farm, where children and adults with intellectual disabilities could participate in sports and other physical challenges. From that came the idea to Special Olympicswhich she founded in 1968.

Today, Special Olympics provide training and activities to more than 5 million participants in 172 countries. It is the largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities in the world, and it was all inspired by Eunice’s love for her family.

Eunices older sister, Rosemary Kennedywas born with intellectual disabilities, and their father, Joseph Kennedy Sr., had her institutionalized at the age of 23. When Joe SR got a stroke in 1961, the truth about Rosemary was revealed to the rest of the family: A cured lobotomy had left his wheelchair -bound with limited speech.

Filled with pain and anger on how her sister had been treated, Eunice did her best to channel it for good. She regularly took Rosemary to visit the Shriver Family Home – install available equipment to help her get around – and founded the special Olympics to help others who met similar challenges.

“She had this extraordinary ability to turn her anger into positive action,” Tim Shriver Sr., Eunice’s son, told People 2021, because the family marked what would have been her 100th birthday. “She could always take advantage of the safe conviction that Rosemary was a person who deserved dignity, joy and opportunity someone else deserved.”

“Many people think of the special Olympics that” nice “, agreed on Eunices grandchildren, Kathleen Shriver, who formed the special OS founder council with five of her cousins.” What my grandmother struggled for was not a movement about being sweet – it was about changing society. ”

For Mary, her mother’s inheritance and love live through every member of the Kennedy-Shriver family.

“I think she would love to be a grandmother,” she reflects now. “She loved being a grandmother – she was a different grandmother than she was as a mother. I think she would be so happy for me and she would love my grandchildren.”

Mary’s oldest child, Katherine Schwarzenegger – Whose middle name is “Eunice” – was only 19 when her grandmother died. Maria tells people that Eunice would be “so fascinated” by what all her grandchildren are up to, but in particular would be “so proud” of Katherine as a wife and Three to three with husband Chris Pratt.

“She would marvel at her,” she praises.

For Mary, look at their children grow up and Become a grandmother Has opened a brand new chapter in his life.

“Everything about (it) is fantastic. Looking at my children finding their way, finding their partners, finding their passion, sitting with them, talking to them, learning from them, laughing with them, traveling with them – I really like them more than anyone in the world,” she shares.

“And my grandchildren have made me remember how to play again, how you are stupid again, how to be creative again,” she continues. “We love going to the park. We love to play pranks on people. We love to play games. I feel so blessed that I live and I get to see my kids grow up and watch and meet my grandchildren.”

I’m Mary Will be published on April 1 and is now available for pre -order wherever books are sold.