MymomisBeautiful;thewordstodescribeherappearancewouldbeinsufficient.Sheisbeautiful inallheraspects.Hersmileshineslikethesunatsunrise.Mymommyhasblackhairwith shimmeringspraysofwhite,longandsmoothcurlslikenoodlespaghettiHereyesareblackand round,filledwithlove.Whenmymommylaughsyoucanseeabeautifulloveinthesideofher cheek.Mymommyisaverageheight;shehaslargeeyelashesandfiguredeyebrows.Herlipsare thickwithasparkleofpink;noseismediumandmuchdefined.Herearsareroundedandneithertoo largenortoosmall,"normal".Ingeneralherfaceissmoothwithabitofwrinklesonherforehead butbeautifulstillSheisofrobustconstitution,butwithnicecurvesshowmorecontent Ontheotherhand,shecanbeoccasionallyverysevere,especiallywiththetopicofeducationand respect."Ring,..ring!YesisthisMrs.Vasquez,"itwastheschoolcalling.Mymomanswered"yes, thisisher!"YourchildhasbeentalkinginclassandhasnotbeendoingherworklatelyMymom quicklywenttotheschoolpickedmeupandgavemeanhouroflecture;shealsopunishedmefor onewholemonth.ShetoldmehowshewouldkickmeoutofthehouseifIdidn'tstartbehaving. Furthermore,Iconsideredhermybestfriend.WheneverIhaveaproblemIcangotalktoher. Althoughmymommydoesnotdosport,sheisrunningthewholeday,fromthemomentshegetsup untilshegoestobedSheisaworkingwoman,ifyoudon'thaveanythingtodointhehouseshewill seeksomethingtodo.ItwassummerandIfinallygotoutofschool,thatsamedayIgothomeandI cleanedthewholehousesothatwewouldhaveanythingtodothenextday.Firstthinginthe morningmymomwakedmeupandtoldmethatwehadtocleanallthewindowsinsideandoutside. However,shehelpedmecleanedthemanditwaskindoffun.Inaddition,Irememberthatwhenwe cametotheUSmymomworkedatthreejobs;shebarelyhadtimeformeAtnight,overwhelmed bythework,shewouldgrabmeinherarmsandcarriedmetoherbed.Shehuggedmeandkissed mewhileIwasasleepso
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MyMomMomsarethemostspecialandpurebeingsintheworld.Theyarethatbeingwhogives everythingforlove,forherhome,forherchildrenandgrandchildren.Themotherissuchablessed womanthatsheenduressomanythingsforthesakeofherchildren,whilemanytimesweare ungratefultothem,assumingthatourmotherswillalwaysbethereforus. Whenmomsstilltherewithyou,itisfortunatetohaveher,becausethekindofloveshegivesisthe purestyoucaneverfind.Mymom,forexample,isveryspecialtome,sinceshehastaughtmehow toliveandhowtovaluethingsinlife.Shehasalwaysbeenpresentatalltimesandhasnotspenta singledayinwhichshehasforgottentogivemeherblessingsheistheonewhoshowmore content...
Shealwaysencouragesmetoworkhard,stayfocusandnevergiveup.Shehasbeenagreatexample ofhowtobeanexcellentmotherandwife.WhatIadmiremostaboutheristhatwhenIwasababy sheusedtoworkeverydayandIamsurprisedthatshealwayshadtimeformeandherwork,Imean thatworkingandtakingcareofababyisverydifficultEverydayshegetsuptowork,tobesurethat IhaveeverythingIneed.She'samotherandwifefocusedongivingherfamilythebestofher.Ifmy familywereinneed,shewoulddowhateverittakestogetwhatisneeded. Anotherreasonwhymymotherisveryspecialisbecauseshealwaysmakesspaceandtakestimeto gotomyvolleyballgames.Shesometimeshastodrivethreeorfourhoursandstayinahoteljustto bepresentinmygamesShegetsreallyinvolvedinthegame,shecheersalot,andsheismy numberonecheerleader.Mymomsometimestakesgoodiestotreatmyteammates.Theyallrespect andloveherbecausehowshetreatseveryoneontheteam.Shegetsexcitedandhasalotoffunin mygamesI'mthankfulforwhatmymomhasdoneformeEverydayshe'slookingfordifferent waystoimprovemylifestyle.Thesacrificesshehastomaketohelpmemoveforwardissomething Iwillneverbeabletopayherback.There'snothingbetterthansharewithhermychallengesand achievements.IalwaysaskGodtoblessmeallowingmetohave
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Mymomisthemostimportantpersontome,andIlookuptohersomuch!Shevolunteersinso manydifferentthingsinthecommunity,andthat'swhatmakeshersuchagoodrolemodeltome.I thinkshepassedonalotofhergoodtraitstome,whichIamverygratefulfor!
ShegrewuponafarmnearBuxton,NorthDakota,andhadayoungersisterandbrother.AfterHigh SchoolinClimax,shewasofftoNDSU!"I'mgoingtoliveinaBIGcitywithmyhusbandbeinga cityman,"shealwayssaidwhenshewasyoung.ThatallchangedwhenshemetmydadatNDSU. SheneverexpectedtofallinlovewithafarmkidfromNDSU,butshedid.Aftercollege,theygot marriedandmovedouttoourfarmhereIguessherviewonlivinginthecitywithashowmore content...
Sheisalsothebestcook,andIdon'tthinkIcouldsurvivewithoutherfood!Shealwaysmakessure weeatthebestmealseveryday,andcooksawidevarietyofthemostdeliciousfood.Myfavorite foodisstir–fry,andshecanmakeultimatestir–fry!She'seventaughtmehowtocookandprepare itMymomworkssohardeverydaycookingmealsforeventsshe'svolunteeredat,andisalways bakingthemostdeliciousgoodiesforeveryoccasion.Whenmydadandourhiredmenare operatingoutinthefield,shealwaysmakessuretobringoutmouthwateringmealsforthem!
Cookingisoneofherbesttalents,andIhopeonedayIcanbeasgoodasacookasher!
Theonlyfaultaboutheristhat...shespeedsalot.She'slikeacheetahonthehighway!!She's definitelyverypronetospeeding,whichiswhymydadandtheworkersonourfarmregardheras "110Jen",becausesometimesitseemsshe'sgoing110milesperhour!Atleastitmeanswhenshe boltsdownthehighwayasfastasshecanwegettoourdestinationfasteronlongroadtrips!
IhopeonedayIwillturnouttobelikemymom,becauseIthinksheisanexampleofapersonwho isnotonlykind,butalsotalented,generous,andsosupportiveandunderstanding.Shealwaystells meto"Treatothershowyouwanttobetreated,"andthat'sthemottobywhichshelivesby.We knowweloveeachothersomuch,andIcouldn'timaginelivinginaworldwithadifferentmom.
Sheisthebest
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GettingtoknowmyMomIttookmeeighteenyearstospendsomequalitytimewithmymotherand discoverwhatanincrediblejourneyshehashadwithmybrothersandme.Sheisthekindofperson whohasalwaysbeenveryinvolvedwithallpartsofourdailylives.Infact,shewasthekindof motherwhoalwayshadtimeforherthreesons,workedfull–timeandhadtimetodevoteto communityprojectstooHerenergyandenthusiasmforallofthesethingsseemedendlessandshe alwaystriedtoteachthethreeofustoseethevalueintheideaofgivingbacktothecommunity.I wasalwaysgladthatshewaspresentatmygamesandsupportedmethroughschool,butittookme overadecadetolearnwhatmotivatedhertobesoshowmorecontent Mymotheralsosays,"...IamprettysureGodintendedformetohavesons.Iammoreofatomboy thanIambarbiedoll.IamsureIwouldnothavedonewellteachingadaughterhowtodoallthe girliethings.Nottomention,whenmynieceswerelittle,Inoticedthedramabeganveryearlyon andtheytalkedincessantly."Ofcourseshewinksandgrinswiththeseremarks.Shewaslikea secondmothertomycousinsandlovesthemdearlyAsmuchassheisquicktopointoutthe reasonsshelovedhavingsonsandwhytheyaresoeasytoraise,thereismoretothisstory.Ican't countthetimesshehasaskedallofuswhyweneedtoscratchourselvesallofthetime.Thisisnot somethingfemalesunderstand.Itisnotsomethingmalesreallywantorfeeltheyneedtoexplain becauseitisjustwhatwedo.Shecanlaughaboutitandenjoyedimitatingusandaskingifwe wouldliketoseeherwalkingaroundthehouseinherunderwearscratchingorfondlingherparts Mymotherwaslesstolerantofanotherbrotherlytrait–squabbling.Thatwasanotherpartofour dynamicwhichjustseemednormaltomybrothersandme.Wejustlikedtoagitateeachother.To mymotherthiswasupsettingbecauseshedidn'twantanyonehurtandshewantedtomakesurewe hadgoodrelationshipsinthefuture.Itwasnoteasyforhertogetustoengageinconversations aboutfeelingsandrelationships.Tryasshemight,weweremostoftennotdidnotfeelhersame
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Mymomismyherobecauseofallthethingsshehasdoneforme.Shehasmybacknomatterwhat andisalwaysonthebrightside.ButtogoofftrackforalittleminuteIwasborninSeattle, Washington.MymomwasBornInMogadishu,Somaliabutmovedfromhercountryattheageof 15.Shewentoffwithhermomakamysweetlittlegrandma.Theyhadtogothroughalotstarting overandgettingtotheunitedstatesButluckilymymomandgrandmothermadeithereto Minnesota.Mymomandgrandmaquicklymovedtoacitycalledrochesteronlybecausetherestof mygrandmother'sfamilyhadgoneofftothere.Theyquicklyadaptedandmadesenseofwhatwas happening
Butmovingonmymomandmygrandmotherweretheonlytwowhocametoliveshowmore content
ShesaidinherteenageyearsshehadmeandthatIwasabigdeal.Shewouldstayuponatnights formeandthatshefellbehindinschoolbecauseofmeButshesaidshedoneitbecausesheloved meandthatshewasn'tgoingtoquit.HappilyIwasthefirstbornbecausenowiminhighschooland Icanmakeherproudbygraduating.WhenIaskedmymomwhatagreatdealofsatisfactionwasin herlifesherespondedwith"There'sonlyone".Sheproceededandsaidthatmeenteringhighschool wasjustthat.Shewentonabouthowshewouldlovetoseemegraduateandsucceed.Shesaidthat itmadeherthinkaboutlifeShesaidthatmeenteringhighschoolmadeherthinkaboutcollegeand growingupandjustelevatinginlife.
MymomsaidhermommadeadifferenceinherlifebuttheresoneotherpersonsheadmiresMy momadmiresmyauntsarahbecauseshestartedacommunitycentertohelppeople.Butalsothefact thatshehasadegreeandisstillstudingtogetadoctorate.ButgoingbacktowhatIwassayingshe admiresmyaunt.Shealsosaidthatsheadmireshermombecauseofallthethingsthatshehasgone through.Butalsothatbecauseshehasherbackandisthereforher.Butalsototalkaboutfuture accomplishmentsmymomsaidthatshewantstheaccomplishmentofmovingintoahouseThatis becausewehavebeeninanapartmentbuildingforabout2years.Shesaiditwouldgive
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WhenIwasyoungerIneverreallyhadamotherbecausemyparentshadgotadivorcewhenIwas5 andI'veneverseenhereversincethen.BecauseofthismyDadhadtoprovideformysisterandI, withhimworkingfortyhoursaweekandalwayshavingtotakemysisterandItoababysitter.My dadisthehardestworkingpersonIhaveevermet.Withmydadworkingandmeandmysisterata babysittermydadneverreallyhadtimewithusandhewasverylonelyinhavingsomeoneelsein hislife.Hestartedgoingondatingsitesandwouldmeetpeoplehewasinterestedintalkingtomore. ThisonedaymydadhadthedayoffandsetupadatewiththisonewomannamedKristi.Shehad twokidsofherown,onenamedJessikaandonenamedJadynshowmorecontent
Thatsameweekonfridaywepackedtogotothebeachandspendtheweekendtogether.Weallget inthecaranditdoesn'tlastlongtillthesilenceisbroken,beingmyageandknowingImighthave twonewsisterswasnotanideaIhadinmind.Ihatedit.Itwasmiserable.Thewholewaydownto thebeachwearguedaboutthingsirealizenowwerethemoststupidthingsyoucouldfightover. Likehowfartheothersperson'sseatinfrontwaspushedback,orevenjustfightingoverwhodid somethingthebest.Itfeltlikeforeverthatwewereontheroad,butweeventuallygettothebeach. Wegettothehotelwewerestayingatandthatstartedanotherissue.Whowasgonnagetthebeds andcouchandwhichtwoweresleepingonthefloor.Ittookforeveritseemedbutwepickedstraws andendedupgettingthecouch.Notgonnalieitwasfunatthebeach.Wehadbroughtsomeshovels andsomethingstomakesandcastlesoutofSoapartfromthearguingthathappened,weallended uphavingagreattime.
NowmydadandKristihavebeendatingforaboutninemonthsandtheyhavebeentalkingabout gettingmarriedforawhilenowImyselfhavegottenusedtothefactthattheywegoingtoendup gettingmarriedsoonerorlater.Andthatendedupbeingatruefact.MydadonMarch25,2007 marriedtohiswifeKristiwhoIcalledmom.Theweddingwasawonderfultimeofcelebrationand hangingoutwithnewrelatives
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Aight.So,wegonnatakeitbacktothebeginning.So,evenfrommybirth,mylifeisalreadypretty messedup.Imeanmymomhadmeat16withaguywhopressuredherintosex.A"man"whoalso mentallyabusedher.Mymomwaslivingwhoknowswhereatthetime,andshewasbroke.Like, shewasliterallylivingoffofmygrammaandgrandpa.Allofmybabystuffcamefromhelpcenters ormygrandparentsbuyingitduetomymother'smanipulationMydadleftwhenIwas2weeks Apparentlyhesaidtomymom,"it'smeorher."Mymomchoseme,veryunwisely.Anyway, throughoutmyinfant/baby/toddleryears,mymom,andthenmymom,sister,whateverboyfriend shehadatthetime,andIwerealwaysmovingAlwaysstrugglingMoneywise,showmore content...
It'ssadformetosaythatIdon'trecallhowhedied.Hisfuneralwasoneofthehardestthingsforme todo.Theonlypartirememberisattheendwhenwewereallallowedtostandfromourseats.I couldn'twalk.Iwantedtothrowmyselftothegroundandburymyselfthere.Ihadsomany questionsandsomanyworriesWhatwasgonnahappen?WherewasIgonnagowhenIneededa placetostay?Whereisgrandmagonnago?Justmanythingsweregoingthroughmyhead.AndI wantedtomakeitstop.So,afterI"gotover"thefactthathewastrulygone,Istoppedaskingmyself allofthosequestions.Mymom,mysister,mynewbrother,whateverboyfriendshehad,andIhad allmovedon.Wewereallworkingonourownlives.Everythingwassmoothforabit.Otherthan thecountlessfightsmymomandwhoever–she–was–in–the–mood–to–bother–at–the–momentgot in.Itwasstraight.Recentyears.Okay,sothisiswhereIcangomoreintodepthbecausethese thingshappenedrecentlyenoughformetoremember.SomymomandIgotinthishugeargument ondayThiswasthedaymylifebegantofeetlikeHellinaWalmartsackMymotherandIhave nevergottenalong,butthisfightwasourworst.Therewasnamecalling,anditevengotphysical. ThiswasthefirstthatIhadeverfoughtbackphysically,andIactuallybruisedapartofher.Ihad wantedtogoandlivewithmygrandmaandgrandpaforawhile,andIguessthisargument
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Forthisnarrative,Iinterviewedmymom,AmandaLopez.Atfirst,sheseemsmean.That'svery bluntbutit'strue.Mymomisaveryguardedandself–reservedperson.Shedoeshavemannersand sheisnicebut,shewon'topenupimmediatelytoanewperson.Sheisalsoveryhardworkingand independent.Shewasn'tbornwiththesequalities,shewentthroughalotofdifferentstruggles,but that'showsheendedupwheresheistoday
Mymomdidn'thaveaverygoodhighschoolexperience.Hermomalwaysmoved,whichcaused hertomoveWhichcausedhertohavefewfriendsSheneverparticipatedinsportsorartsShe mostlyfocusedonherhomelifeandschool.Hermomneverreallysupportedher.Whenaskedabout thefuture,shestate"Ineverthoughtaboutthefuture,itwasmoreofadaybyday,momentby momentkindofthing.HowamIgoingtopayforthisandwhenwillIgetmyhomeworkdone?"My momhadtobuyherownclothes,paytherentathermom'shouse,andjuggleschoolwork.So,as youcanimagine,shehadalotonherplateAlthough,shedidhavesupportfromherauntanduncle But,shestillhadtodoalotofthingsonherown."AuntTerriandIwouldgotoherparent'shouse andhangoutonthefarm.Wewoulddoeverydaynormalstufflikebakingandknitting." Essentially,AuntTerriwasthemomsheneverhad,shetaughtherbasicskillsandgavehertipson differentthings."Theyweretheonesthatcametomyvolleyballgamesandmadecupcakesforthe
Lookingbackthroughmylife,ihaverealizedmymotherhastaughtmethemost.Theonewho meansthemosttome,theonepersonthathasbeentheabsolutebestshecanbeformeandour family,always.Thestrongestmostwisehumanbeingiknowhasbeeninmylifesincedayone, whichiamforevergratefulfor."Thehappiestpeopledon'thavethebestofeverything,theyjust makethebestofeverything"Thisquoteissomethingmymomhasalwayslivedbyandtaughther kidsatayoungage.Weweren'trich,didn'thaveeverythingweneededattimesbutwealwayshad ourfamilyandlovethatwentallaround,whichwasenoughforus.Mymomishonestlymyrock, shehasbeenthereformethrougheverythingThroughoutlifewehavedefinitelyhadour differences,mostlyit'sme,theteenagerwantingtodosomethingstupidandmymomtryingtoshow mewhyishouldn'tmakethesecarelessdecisions.Asateenageryoumightthinkyouaregrownand knoweverythingthat'swhytheparentsaretheretoknocksomesenseintoourbrains,theyhave beenthroughthesameexactstuff,theycanshedsomelightonthesituation.Parentstrytoteach theirkidstolearnfromtheirmistakesbut,everyonehastolearnfromtheirownmistakesSothe parentscanonlydotheirbestatteachingtheirchildrenmorals.Mymotherhastaughtmeeverything iknow,startingoffwithbeinggratefuleveryday,livinginthemomenteverysingleday,toseizethe day.Mymomhastaughtmerightfrom
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