As we are nearing the end of Women’s History Month, I have been thinking about what women have inspired me. Of course, my mother comes straight to mind. I feel like a lot of people can relate. She raised me with acceptance and joy in her heart and taught me what it means to be a woman. I can’t even begin to describe how much she means to me. It wasn’t always this way, though.
My mom and I always fought- especially when I entered my teen years. She never knocked, she was really hard on me about school, and it felt like she never listened to me. My dad used to point out how most of our conversations sounded like we were bickering. Sometimes I think he was being a little dramatic, but other times he was definitely right. I always thought I had this terrible relationship with my mom and my brother was her favorite. It took me a long time to realize my mom cares for me like no one else. She knows me better than I know myself.
She’s the hardest worker I’ve ever met. My mom grew up with not a lot of money and 3 siblings. She didn’t have a car in high school, had a part-time job, and worked her own way to go to nursing school. She spent long hours at the hospital throughout my life and became the breadwinner. Today, she works as a Nurse Director after working her way up for over 25 years. She got there with her good looks and charm, for sure. My mom has always been good with people, and very persuasive. I truly admire her perseverance and dedication.
People say I get my strength from her. My mom lost a lot of people when she was young. I can’t imagine how hard it can be to go through that when you are trying to make a living in this world. She still powered through to be where she is today. When we lost her mother almost two years back, I knew it was really difficult for her. I stayed strong with her and we started to really strengthen our relationship. When we lost my dad a few months back, I didn’t know if things would ever be okay again. He was always my role model and my best friend. My mom and I started spending a lot of time together and I got to really know her as a person and a friend rather than a mother. I realized just how strong she had been throughout my father’s sickness. I saw her essentially in a new light. Now I miss her so much at school even though we call everyday and she always checks in. She is the person I respect most in my life and I’ve never met someone with such strength and resilience. My mother is always the woman that inspires me, but especially this past Women’s History Month.