The world is full of women who are capable of creating a generation of leaders, followers, artists and engineers. That’s not to say that all women are able to do this. Every day you hear about both sides of the spectrum; a mother who lifts the car off her child with strength fueled by love and instinct or one who fails her child in terrible ways. It takes a lot of navigating for a person to move forward in life with all the pitfalls that are along the way. I’m thankful for those women who selflessly give a large part if not all of their lives to raise children and are ready to teach them responsibility and have strength of character.

I’m most thankful for my Mom, Daisy Chavez. She started having us at a young age and pinned herself against the wall with responsibilities when our Dad left us to fend for ourselves. She worked and put herself through school to become a Dental assistant and managed to keep us clothed and fed. There were times when she would be overwhelmed but like the heroine that she found ways to keep our family together. As we evolved to have our own personalities she had to struggle with rebellious or mischievous kids, even with depressed ones. She found a way to hold us together by holding us close to her and the sound of her voice would be the escape we needed from those moments. She nearly died for us and fought to come back for us. We are fortunate in ways that we won’t understand until we no longer have her there and even then she will find a way to guide us. 

Hug your Moms, or pray to their spirits or hold onto their memories, whichever faction of religious belief or lack there of that you fall under. Just know that those of us who are lucky to have a mother (or at times a father who takes her place) should honor who they are or were by being better people and be the good they fought for you to be. One day isn’t enough to honor Moms everywhere but its a damn good reminder after the days we spend thinking only of ourselves to think about the reason why we are capable of being who we are.