Always There: Kim Samouelian is the kind of wife and mother who shows up no matter what

One match is all it took to ignite a partnership that is burning so strong that those that are familiar with them can feel the warmth and see the guiding light that their fire exudes endlessly

Kim Samouelian is the kind of wife and mother who just “MAKES IT HAPPEN” – “IT” is anything for her daughter or her husband. Kim knows no other way. 

“She’s 5’0 and petite, one would say. The first time I saw her I said, ‘So, I have a date with Spud Webb.’ She laughed and said, ‘Nope, just a date with Lil’ Kim,’ and we started our 13-hour first date.”

If you are on any sort of date with someone for more than half a day, chances are that person is special. And when it is a first date no less, that person must be the most amazing, interesting, wonderful person on the planet.

For Aaron Samouelian, that is exactly how he felt about Kim, as there would be many dates to follow, along with a wedding and a childbirth. As he continued to get to know her, he continued to realize more and more that she was the one person he could not live without. Kim changed his life in so many ways, and he will be forever grateful for that.

He said that she’s always supporting him and challenging him. Aaron also said that his wife has taught him a lot about patience, as well as slowing down and being in the moment. He even said that she is a completely positive individual who brings out the best in everyone and makes him laugh, and he very much appreciates Kim for who she is.

“She is very infectious in a positive way,” Aaron said. “She’s so kind, caring and patient. I’ve never questioned if she cared about me or loved me. She is the rock and foundation of why I’ve gone from what I was to what I am.”

For Aaron, it was not love at first sight, but love at first laugh. Kim made him crack up during their 13-hour first date, and that foreshadowed a lot of their relationship. Even now, she still makes him laugh and fall in love with her each day, and he very much appreciates that.

He also appreciates Kim for how accepting she is, and how she helps make him a better parent. He brought a daughter into their marriage – Hope – and Kim is the kind of stepmom who does not overstep, but still ensures Hope knows she is there for her if she needs anything.

“She is very supportive,” Aaron said. “She keeps it easy peasy.”

On the other hand, Aaron and Kim have a daughter of their own – Graylee – and Aaron said he has never seen such a compassionate mother who is attached to her daughter the way Kim is. That girl is her everything, and she would drop anything and everything to take care of her.

She is also instilling a lot into Graylee even at an early age, showing signs of being a phenomenal role model.

“With Graylee, she focuses on teaching,” Aaron said. “She’s teaching, but in a fun way. She just keeps calm and lets Graylee have her behaviors. She teaches loyalty, unconditional love and to have a smile. Gray is awesome.”

Gray is awesome because her mother is awesome. There’s no getting around that.

“She is an amazing mom,” Aaron added. “She is a vice principal. She is a mom until our little girl falls asleep. We are older parents, and we have a soon-to-be 3-year-old. We teamwork it. She is a great, great mother.”

Aaron could not imagine anyone better being in that role raising his daughter, and he could not imagine anyone as a better complement of a stepmother to his other daughter. Kim is just downright a wonderful woman with a whole lot of heart, and there is nothing that comes between her and her family.

At the same time, Kim is very much a hardworking individual. She is a middle school vice principal who is truly all about the children. Even with being at a school in Livonia Public School System where her fellow VPs and principals are a very close-knit cohort (The Good Old Boys Network), Kim sets all the politics aside and does her job tremendously.

“In that type of role, Kim has always been a leader with her coworkers and the parents,” Aaron said. “Even with the two principals she has worked under, Kim will guide and lead them to use best practices by utilizing a child development strategy that will drive healthy changes to drive long term behavioral patterns in the youth and also their family members. She came from a very highly respected suburb of Chicago. She was beloved. She’s probably the only one I’ve heard in that position, no matter what it is, say the children/students all have the equal right to learn and be cared for and nurtured in the school system. She lives that; she believes that. She can connect with anyone. That’s just who she is. She’s amazing at it.”

Aaron says a lot of who Kim is has to do with where she came from. She grew up on the south side of Chicago to loving parents who raised her and her six siblings to be strong, independent individuals. That’s why they all graduated with college degrees, and it is why they are all successful.

Kim is taking a lot of what she learned from her childhood and implementing it into the way she is raising Graylee, and that is why Aaron has no doubt Gray is going to be such a wonderful woman. She has the best mom to look up to, and she has such a great support system around her.

“I know I have not made our time together easy, whether through my actions or because of the person I am (good, bad, ugly), but I love Kim so much. I take pride that it is my duty to care for, protect and support in good AND bad times. I am honored to parent every day with Kim. She is an amazing MOM and an even better WIFE.” – Aaron