As a little kid, you often get asked “Who is your superhero?” A lot of us would immediately say either our mom or dad. I was one of them. I would say proudly “My mom!” Nevertheless, I don’t think my seven-year-old brain comprehended the significance behind that question. If asked now, I would say . . .
A superhero is someone who is kind, someone who makes you feel safe, someone who you know will be there for you no matter what, my mom is all these things but so much more. While she has faced much adversity, she remains kind, hopeful, and pushes me every day to be the best version of myself I can be. She is my shoulder to lean on when things are bad, the person I call when I have no idea what to tell the nurse, or when debating whether or not to get the top from Amazon.
Although, it has not always been smooth sailing for us. We had our differences during my teenage years. I thought I knew better but would be met with the dreaded “I told you so.” Only then, I hated hearing it. It made me feel defeated. Not to mention my mom would almost have what looked like to be a smile on her face, so you can imagine it heightened my emotions even more. However, now I understand the smile wasn’t because of me. Rather it was because she was reminded of her upbringing with her mom (my grandma). As she has put it, “Me vas a entender cuando tengas tus propios hijos,” which translates to “You will understand me when you have your kids.” She had learned herself what her mom (my grandma) was referring to.
I laugh at writing this because while I may not have my own kids, I am the eldest of three sisters. Three sisters who are all in high school might I add, but I’ll catch myself saying or doing the same things that once irked me to them. I will also put on my “mom’s type of music” when cleaning or doing homework. These little quirks I associate with her and those I once found annoying; I am growing to love. Will I ever admit it to her? No, probably not. Nevertheless, I have truly come to appreciate her for herself. There are days when I have to remind myself that she is not only my mom but an individual. She is someone’s sister, friend, wife, colleague, someone with a dream, someone who sacrificed a lot to give my everything, and someone with the biggest heart I know; also really stubborn. Yet, it is because of these things that I am the person I am today. She put her life on hold when I was born. Not living out her twenties to care for me while also battling depression and going through a divorce. She struggled just to get a meal for us at times but she kept fighting. Eventually, we got out of the “tough times.” I would have never known though. My mom always made it feel like we were okay even when we weren’t.
So, if someone were to ask me now who my superhero is, I would reply “My mom.” Only now, I do understand the significance behind the question. Not like a seven-year-old is obligated or expected to, but your superhero is someone who holds you up even when they are really low. They are your rock. My mom is my rock to whom I owe much of my success. Someone who I look up to and whom I am eternally grateful for. She is one of a kind. As Maya Angelou once said, “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of the rainbow.”
Works Cited
Aishwarya.Panneerselvam. (2018, March 29). “To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Medium. https://medium.com/@aishwaryable_/she-wears-strength-and-dignity-on-a-daily-basis-b0725245b59d