Extraordinary Woman on Mother's Day

She is my strength and I owe everything that I have become to my mother. She is a single mom to my brother and I. I have seen her struggles to make a living. Me, being the youngest was tagged along wherever she goes. She worked as a saleslady as I was growing up. It is the only job that she can have...after all, she only finished up to third grade in elementary. My grandpa who came from a Spanish descent told her that women stays at home to take care of the family so; education is good for men only, the provider of the family. She cried rivers when she was forbidden to go to school. Mama was our first teacher. My brother and I skip nursery and kindergarten, and learning to read and write was easy, thanks to Mama.

She was a saleslady for so many years and when that company bankrupt, gone was her source of income. She was worried but, I never saw her gave up! I never saw her cry and worried. Not until I was in high school. Education is very important to her so; she wanted to enroll us in the best school in the city but, she can no longer afford that. To make ends meet, she accepted doing odd jobs and I go with her and helped her out.

My uncle took my brother away from us and send him to a nice school. Washing the nastiest laundry of other people was heart-breaker. But, we did it every time my tuition is coming. I did good in school so; in college, I was accepted in Xavier University, the most prestigious school in the city and my mother was so happy. It was like a fulfillment of her own dreams.

My cousin got married and have kids so; they asked my mother to helped them out...in return, they will pay for my one semester in college. My mother took the offer and I, once again tagged along with her.

If not for a hard working mother, I will not finish my education. If not for her dreams, I could never aim higher. If not for her, I could have wasted my life feeling sorry of the life we have had.

A single mother who hurdle odd jobs was able to send her two children in Xavier University was truly an extraordinary woman. I have my own struggles at school ... financially ... so did my brother but, we graduated with good grades. Thanks to Mama, the source of our strength, our inspiration, and the pillar of our dreams.