Today is a very special day for moms across the nation! Many people have or have had a person(s) who has influenced their lives in many ways. Today I want to celebrate two people who have influenced my life in many ways beyond their understanding. For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has been an example to follow, she set the standard for my mother, her brothers and sisters, all of my cousins and myself.
My grandmother had nine kids which she brought up by herself. As a single mother, she was able to handle both the demands of Mother and Father to her eight surviving children. She not only accomplished those demands successfully but she was also able to pursue an education and became the school principal in her small town. She was an extremely bright, hard-worker, and humble person, which saw the positive in everything and everyone through her hard work she acquired the admiration of her students and elders in her small town in Nicaragua.
She was a remarkable person, who cared about everyone but especially about her family and loved ones. My grandmother was able to guide, encourage, promote perseverance and consistency onto everyone she met. Her example still influences not only our family but many in her community. One important thing she always bestowed upon us was to be responsible and always do the right thing.
The other person who has made a remarkable footprint in my life is my mother. She has taught me that no matter how big your dreams are you should always pursue them while putting your responsibilities first. My mother and her family did not have many of the things we take for granted today but she made a conscious decision to be a hard worker and to face life adversities head on. At just 16 years old she enrolled in a boarding school to pursue a degree in early childhood education, leaving her family behind. After having both my sister and me, she successfully earned a master’s degree in higher education with a specialty in Modern Algebra.
Years later and because of life circumstances she had to start from zero, once in a new country with a different language she self-taught English and became a high-school teacher. Because of my grandmother’s example, my mother was able to instill those same principles, encourage, promote perseverance and consistency onto my sister and I. Because of her love, positive attitude and guidance today both my sister and I have become who we are. Her unconditional support and love continues to inspire me and guide in many of the decisions I am faced with today.
Thank you to both my grandmother and mother and Happy Mother’s day to all moms who are guiding their children through life’s adversities.