Subheading:ATributetotheStrongestWomanIKnow
Foreword:
Growingup,Ialwaysknewthatmymomwasspecial.Shewasaworkingmom,andyetshestillmanagedtotakecareofmeandmyyoungersiblings.Shecookedusourmeals,helpeduswithourhomework,andevenfoundtimetoplaywithus.AsIgrewolder,Istartedtorealizejusthowamazingshereallywas.Herstrength,resilience,andunwaveringloveforusweretrulyawe-inspiring.Inthisstory,Iwanttopaytributetomymomandalltheamazingmothersouttherewhosacrificesomuchfortheirfamilies.MymomgrewupinasmalltowninChina.Herfamilywaspoor,andshehadtoworkhardtohelpsupportthem.Despitethechallenges,shewasatopstudentinherclassanddreamedofpursuingabetterlife.Whenshewas17,shemetmydad,whowasstudyingabroadinChina.Theyfellinloveandgotmarriedsoonafter.MymomleftherfamilybehindandfollowedmydadtotheUnitedStates,wheretheystartedtheirnewlifetogether.
IntheU.S.,mymomfacedmanyobstacles.Shedidn'tspeakEnglishwellandhadahardtimefindingajob.Butshedidn'tgiveup.Shetookclassesandlearnedthelanguage,andeventuallylandedajobasaseamstress.Asanewmom,mymomfacedevenmorechallenges.Shehadthreeyoungchildrentotakecareof,andmydadworkedlonghourstoprovideforus.Butmymomnevercomplained.Shedideverythingshecouldtomakesurewewerehappyandhealthy.Oneofmyearliestmemoriesofmymomiswatchinghercookinthekitchen.Shewouldchopvegetableswithlightningspeed,herhandsmovingsofastIcouldbarelykeepup.Shewouldtellusstoriesasshecooked,makinguslaughwithhersillyjokesandfunnyfaces.Mymomwasalsoagreatlistener.WheneverIhadaproblem,shewouldsitdownwithmeandlistenpatiently,offeringhersupportandadvice.Evenasateenager,IneverfeltlikeIcouldn'ttalktoheraboutanything.
Whenmyyoungersiblingswereborn,mymombecameevenmoreofasuperheroinmyeyes.Shesomehowmanagedtotakecareofthreekidsundertheageoffive,whilestillkeepingourhomecleanandcookingdeliciousmeals.Mymom'sloveforuswasunconditional.Sheneverhesitatedtoputourneedsbeforehers.Whenweweresick,shewouldstayupallnighttakingcareofus,evenifitmeantsacrificingherownsleep.AsIgrewolderandstartedtounderstandthechallengesmymomfaced,Ibecameevenmoreamazedbyherstrength.Shehadtonavigateanewcountry,language,andculture,allwhileraisingafamilyandworkingfull-time.Butmymomnevercomplained.Shealwayshadasmileonherfaceandapositiveattitude,evenwhenthingsweretough.Shetaughtustoberesilientandtonevergiveuponourdreams.
OneofthethingsIadmiremostaboutmymomisherworkethic.Shenevershiedawayfromhardwork,andwouldoftentakeonextrashiftsatworktoprovideforus.Despiteworkinglonghours,mymomalwaysfoundtimetospendwithus.Shewouldtakeustothepark,playboardgameswithus,andeventakeusonweekendtripstoexplorenewplaces.Mymomalsoinstilledinustheimportanceofeducation.Sheencouragedustostudyhardandpursueourdreams,evenifitmeantsacrificingsomeofourfreetime.WhenIgraduatedfromcollege,mymomwastheproudestpersonintheroom.Shehadsacrificedsomuchtogivemeandmysiblingsabetterlife,andseeingussucceedwashergreatestreward.
AsIstartedmycareer,mymomcontinuedtobemybiggestsupporter.Shewouldcallmeeveryweektocheckin,askingaboutmyworkandmylife.Shewasalwaysthereforme,nomatterwhat.Evennow,asagrownadult,Istilllookuptomymom.Shehasbeenthroughsomuchinherlife,butsheneverlethercircumstancesdefineher.Sheisatrueinspirationtomeandtoeveryonewhoknowsher.Iknowthatbeingamomisnoteasy.It'sa24/7jobthatrequiresimmensepatience,love,andsacrifice.Butmymomhasshownmethatit'spossibletobeanamazingmomwhilestillpursuingyourdreamsandpassions.Herstrength,resilience,andunwaveringlovehaveshapedmeintothepersonIamtoday.Ihopethatoneday,Icanbehalfthemothershehasbeentomeandmysiblings.
Sohere'stoalltheamazingmomsouttherewhoworktirelesslyfortheirfamilies.Youaresuperheroesineverysenseoftheword,andyoudeservealltheloveandadmirationintheworld.Andtomymom:thankyouforeverythingyou'vedoneformeandmysiblings.YouarethestrongestwomanIknow,andIloveyoumorethanwordscanexpress.AsIlookbackonmychildhood,Irealizethatsomeofmyfondestmemoriesinvolvemymom.Whetheritwascookingtogether,playinggames,orjusttalkingaboutourday,shemadeeverymomentspecial.Andthat'sthegreatestgiftamothercangive:hertime,love,andundividedattention.Mymomhasgivenmethatandsomuchmore,andIwillforeverbegratefulforher.
