To Madre, with love

The opinion section does not have enough space to adequately capture how fantastic my mother is. She became a mother when I was born nearly 30 years ago. Two years later, we welcomed my younger brother into the family. In 2004, she legally adopted my cousin and later became a stepmom after my dad reunited with his long-lost son in 2013.

In my three decades on this earth, our family has seen a lot of trials. We’ve moved all over Colorado seeking a better life, and I believe we found it in Grand Junction. I stayed there for nearly 20 years, after all.

When we moved up there in 2001, we struggled to keep the lights on. I remember us staying with my aunt and uncle until we found a one-bedroom house. I remember us walking to the bus stop to run errands because Dad had the car, already on its last few miles.

I remember when Dad would bring leftovers home from his cooking job so we could eat dinner that night. I remember crying when we had to quit our cable subscription because I couldn’t watch SpongeBob. 

But we made it through. We steadily moved up. My mother rose through the ranks at her job, and my dad found a great-paying job. We eventually got a reliable car, then another one. We found bigger places to stay and bought a five-bedroom suburban house in 2015. (I say we, but I didn’t do any of that. I went to school and caused trouble.)

My parents — especially Mom — were a bright light and solid rock to stand on through everything my family went through. I know for sure I wouldn’t be where I am without her.

Like I said, there isn’t enough space to portray how amazing of a woman my momma is. So, for the sake of space, I narrowed it down to the top five:

She truly cares about the community: I can’t count how many benefits I was dragged to and volunteer opportunities Mom signed us up for. But it wasn’t just so we had something to do on a Saturday; she served alongside us feeding those unhoused, raising money for non-profits, and serving in church. There was nobody she wouldn’t help in any way they needed.

She gives the best advice: Speaking of help, she is a natural counselor. My mom has a knack for calming people down. She has always had a listening ear and will be there for emotional support, but she is also able to provide practical, concrete steps for how to get out of any predicament. If I could summarize her advice to grown-up me, it would most likely say, “Trust God, and take action.”

She’s a fighter: I don’t mean a literal scrapper (though she admits she fought a little when she was younger.) Mom has the most solid moral compass out of all the people I know. She never wavered on what was right and acted with integrity; if someone wasn’t, she was not afraid to tell them, and I genuinely believe my siblings and I are better for it. Her unwavering strength and resilience in the face of challenges are truly inspiring.

She’s hilarious: Every party we went to, every family gathering she hosted, every time she walked into a room, she lit it up, and people flocked to her. Momma has an intense amount of charisma. She brings people together using that gift, and we always have a good time. Her positive outlook and sense of humor never fail to entertain, and I still would have wanted to know her if I wasn’t related. 

She shaped me into who I am: Most importantly, as my parent, Mom played an integral role in shaping the person I am today. Some people think it’s an insult to become like your mother, but I would consider myself lucky if I were half the person she is. She’s obsessed with Wonder Woman, but in my eyes, she truly embodies her.

Even though we’re 2,000 miles away, I am still close to my momma. She calls me “Meemaw,” and I call her “Madre.” I’m not a mother yet, but when I become one, her grandbaby will be grateful and proud to have her, just like I have always been.