The only part I'm going to comment on is the Passport. Maybe someone should have been able to tell you where to go but maybe you also could have researched that beforehand?
Anyway, congratulations. The passport process was pretty quick for me and I only expedited one part (that was the processing and not the delivery) so I'm hoping that yours comes through super fast and you are able to travel to see your mother. Best of luck.
Mine was same day at the office but, yes, family and friends were there for others (I attended my interview on my own). They sat at the back. I attended my daughter's ceremony which was about 2 weeks after mine.
Didn't see a post yet so went ahead and made one.
Just submitted. Both my daughter and I submitted today - I went as a K-1 and she was my K-2 (she's now an adult!). Our 10 year GC's are about to expire so I went ahead and finally applied for full citizenship
Received NOA and and Biometrics Reuse docs for both of us almost immediately.
Good luck on the last part of our journey everyone!