‘We’re So Lucky’: Erika and Marc are a phenomenal couple whose children love them more than they realize

Their children want them to know they are wonderful parents and grandparents who are appreciated beyond belief. Everything the Moser boys have accomplished and the men they have turned out to be today are direct results of their parents, Erika and Marc Kaplan. Nick, Steve and Mike appreciate their parents so much, and they see them as their foundation who they are beyond lucky to have in their lives.

What makes things even more incredible is that Marc is the boys’ stepdad, but they do not see him that way. He has been a great father figure ever since he entered their lives, and they love him as such.

They love seeing the relationship between their parents grow every day too. Even as Erika and Marc have been together for 28 years, their love continues to blossom as time goes on, and it goes to show how right they are for one another.

“They actually met while working together at a company called Active Screw & Fastener in Elk Grove Village,” Nick said. “When they first started dating, we had to pretend that we didn’t know Marc very well if we visited mom at work as they did not want word of their relationship to be common knowledge in the office. That made for some funny moments over the years.”

“I think what makes them a good couple is that after 20-plus years, they are still able to challenge each other, but always maintain an attitude of love and respect,” Mike added. “Their mutual love of seeing new places, experiencing new things, and spoiling the heck out of their grandchildren are just a few of the things that make them an amazing couple.”

Keeping it a secret at the beginning was obviously worth it for all parties, as Erika and Marc are just as in love with each other today as they were back then, and their boys cannot help but speak very highly of them.

“I think they both are kind, respectful people of great integrity,” Steve said. “They always put other people ahead of themselves, especially their kids and grandkids.

“For example, they have spent the (grand)kids’ elementary school years having them over for breakfast in the morning just to spend more time with them, which also helps out us as their parents more than we can properly describe. That is just who they are.”

Just like they have been sacrificial parents over the years, the Kaplans are sacrificial grandparents too. They are there at all times for all their family members, and it truly does not matter if they are blood or not – family is family.

On top of being ever-present parents and hands-on grandparents, Erika and Marc are great to all their extended family members too. They are admired for always showing up and always showing out, and for being great encouragers too.

“They are both people of tremendous integrity who would drop everything in an instant to help their family or friends who may need something,” Nick said. “They are our biggest cheerleaders when things go well, and they are tremendous sources of strength and compassion when life deals us tough cards. Kind, generous, welcoming and loving are just a few of the words that I would use to best describe them.”

“They mean everything, they are two people I know will always be there for me no matter what,” Steve added. “If things are going well, they want to hear about it. If there is a problem, they want to be there to help solve it. Being someone who keeps most things to myself, it is unbelievably important to have people like them in my life.”

Nick and his brothers cannot help but look back on all the great things their parents taught them over the years either. In fact, the Kaplans should be proud of who their boys have become.

“Coming from a child who put them through almost everything one can think of, I’ve learned how to carefully navigate some of life’s most interesting challenges,” Mike said. “I have felt so much better equipped as a parent because of the tools Mom and Marc have given me growing up.”

“They are excellent parents because they have instilled good values in their kids and are always there for their family… They are absolutely amazing grandparents,” Nick added. “When the kids have days off of school, they very regularly do whatever they can to spend some time with them. Whether it is a fun activity, going out to lunch or even just a Starbucks run, they just enjoy being with their grandchildren. They also very rarely miss any of the kids’ sporting events, dance recitals or school events.”

“Erika and Marc are an integral part of their grandchildren’s lives,” their daughter-in-law Stef said. “They care deeply about their family’s happiness and they put it at the forefront of their lives. This is why they mean so much to me and my family, and it is also what I have learned from them; that much happiness can be found in the people who surround us each and every day. They are important to me because they play such a big role in the lives of my kids.”

Erika and Marc are dubbed their grandchildren’s number one fans, and you could dub them their children’s number one fans too. Just like they do not miss an event of the grandkids, the number of times they missed their sons’ events could probably be counted on one hand.

“Mom has always been there,” Nick, Steve and Mike said. “When we were kids, she volunteered all of the time at school for various events and things there. When we lost our dad, she made sure we were OK first and foremost before worrying about herself. That is a good summation of who she is; she is always looking out for everyone else before she looks out for herself.”

Individually, as a mom, there is no one quite like Erika. She is the definition of someone who sacrifices everything for the good of her children, and that does not go unnoticed or unappreciated.

“Marc to me is kind of like a real-life superhero,” the Moser boys said. “There are plenty of people who would have looked at Mom’s situation (widowed, three adolescent boys who just lost their dad, etc.) and kept on moving. Marc did the opposite; he jumped right in. And he did so masterfully. He let us warm up to him in our own time and comfort level and straddled the line between friend and parental figure better than anyone could ever imagine.”

His sons mentioned that Marc has even been present for essentially every one of their’ major life events. He has been someone they can rely upon and count on too, and he can give that great father-son advice.

Of course, it cannot be overemphasized how great this has trickled down to them being grandparents (Monoon and Bapa) either.

Nor can their true hearts. They both love each other and others, and they are great people to be around.

“From Marc and Erika, I’ve learned the value of a strong work ethic, the importance of love and compassion, and how powerful it is to keep your heart open,” daughter-in-law Sheridan said. “They’ve shown me that family should always come first and that it’s important to follow your passions.”

“In retirement, Mom volunteers at a local hospital and has always been a big reader. Marc is an avid golfer who plays whenever time allows,” the Moser boys added. “Together they like eating out, going to shows, traveling and attending as many of their grandkids’ sporting events, school events, and dance recitals as you could possibly imagine.”

And then there are the memories they have made with their boys over the years. From the first camping and capsized canoe trip to everything in between, every moment spent with Erika and Marc has the chance of turning into a memory.

“My happiest memories are the times when we are all together as a family,” the Moser boys said. “That has become increasingly difficult as the family has grown and life has taken us into countless different directions with work, kids, etc., but we always seem to find a way. When they both turned 60 in 2016, we all took a family trip to Hilton Head together (although RJ and Benjamin were not born yet). Subsequently Nick, Stef and their kids vacationed with them in Cape Cod in 2021. We are now most often able to all be together for holidays or on rare lazy weekends at Erika and Marc’s enjoying an afternoon in the pool and hanging out on the deck.”

“Going downtown to see Aladdin and spending days in the pool with them at their house over the summer,” granddaughter Megan mentioned as a top memory.

“The birthday trip they took me on when I turned 10 for the Bears vs. Chiefs game in Kansas City,” grandson Michael added.

“I like it when we go to the movies or do other fun things when we have days off of school,” grandson Benjamin mentioned. “I also like going to their house to hang out every morning before school.”

“Going to the first Christmas Tree lighting when we moved to Elk Grove,” granddaughter Josey added.

“Going to see Frozen on Ice,” granddaughter Terra said.

“Spending holidays at their house. Going for breakfast every Tuesday and Thursday. Going to see movies and playing Top Golf,” grandson Russell concluded.

As long as they are together, that is all that matters. That is one of the countless lessons Erika and Marc hammered home into their kids and grandkids, and it is one of the many lessons they live out on a daily basis.

The core of who Erika and Marc are is wonderful, morally sound individuals who are that much better together, and they are appreciated by all their family members and friends.

“We just want them to really know how much they mean to us and how lucky we all consider ourselves to be able to call them our parents and grandparents. The things that people feel but fail to say as often as they should. They are two incredible people who took a unique situation and have turned it into a family that anyone would be lucky to call themselves a part of.” – Nick, Steve and Mike