special.

Holding down three jobs, looking after grandma, giving poetry recitals, just being a perfect role model -- Melisa could not have wished for a better parent.

Now the ten-year-old has proof her mom is the best: Joyce Dyce has been named Mother of the Year.

"I was shocked. I thought somebody was joking when I first heard,'' the 57-year-old single mother exclaimed yesterday from her home in Cricket Lane, Somerset.

The Continental Society of Bermuda held its 28th Annual Mother's Day presentation on Saturday at Chelston, the US Consul General's residence.

Some 180 people turned up to see Mrs. Dyce receive a host of awards and gifts, including a watch, a clock, a painting, a jewellery box and certificates.

In a startling break with tradition, the runner-up was a man -- Michael Faries, a widower.

His 11-year-old son, Phillip, a Harrington Sound student, wrote to the Society, praising his father for taking on the dual role of parents.

Mother of the Year "We've had a male runner-up before, but in 28 years this is only the second time it has happened,'' said Society president Olga Scott.

"When children are asked to write, many say a parent is performing both roles. In this case Phillip saw his dad as both mother and father. I think it is very positive.'' She added Mr. Faries, who runs a carpet cleaning business, also looked after a handicapped son, Andrew.

The eight-year-old attends Elliott Primary School.

It was Melisa, a student at West End Primary, who had written to the Society about her mother.

The letter started: "First of all I want to thank God for sending a special woman to Jamaica to pick me to be her very own daughter.'' Elsewhere, Melisa said her mother had taught her to be "responsible and forgiving''.

And another part of the letter praised her for telling the truth about the adoption.

"I am very pleased to have two wonderful mothers and thanks to her for being so honest about it.'' It was eight years ago that Mrs. Dyce adopted Melisa after going to Jamaica on holiday.

Melisa's parents, related to her ex-husband, could not afford to raise her -- and Mrs. Dyce agreed to help, despite having three children of her own.

"I took Melisa back to Bermuda with me, but I made sure she never forgot her biological mother. Melisa sends letters to her regularly,'' said Mrs. Dyce.

As well as running the switchboard at The Princess Hotel, Mrs. Dyce is also a seamstress and part-time cashier at Gorham's.

She used to work full-time at Gorham's but had to scale down her workload to care for her 85-year-old mother, Matilda.

Mrs. Dyce, whose three older children have left home, paid tribute to Melisa.

"She is very helpful with her grandma and knows how to wash and iron clothes.

"She is really very good for her age and is a very loving child.''