BRITCHES

THE BRITCHES

She definitely wore them well. Raising 5 boys on her own from the time I was 3 years old, she was tough as nails. My mother was #BossMom #1.

From American Samoa, a US territory out in the South Pacific, my mother married right after her Junior year in high school; she and my father traveled wherever the US Army took them, spitting babies out along the way. From Hawaii to California, Georgia, to Texas and back again. Monterey Bay on the Central Coast of California was the last stop, both for the family and my parents' marriage.

From the day my father walked out the front door, my mother taught me the most valuable lesson. Get things done on your own because there’s not always going to be help. My mother had an uphill climb with: 1. Did not finish High School, no diploma 2. No skills, house-wife / stay-at-home mom 3. English as a second language. Always working 2 full-time jobs making minimum wage, she somehow managed to fit in a third job.

Even then, it seemed impossible to stay above water. But to her boys, my #BossMom always showed grit, toughness, and stressed to get it done and sleep later. I’m grateful for the work ethic she instilled in my brothers and I. Consistent wins are not possible without hard work. Thank you for sacrificing to keep us as safe as possible.

As poor as we were, my #BossMom always showed her goodness and love, especially to friends and family. Our apartment and kitchen were always open. I couldn’t understand it because we didn’t have enough to eat as it was. Then there would be relatives staying with us for weeks and months at a time. Always thinking of the next person, thank you for being the protector you were.

I remember this one 4th of July when my #BossMom wanted to take my younger brother and I, I’m sure to buy only sparklers and loose safe-n-sane fireworks. At this moment, we were out playing with a friend (friends to this day since we were 7 yrs. old) when she came to gather us up. Instead of sending my friend on his way, she invites him along to buy fireworks for him also. Back then my friend was cuter than several bunnies so… When we got home and my friend left to show off his new bag of goodies, my mother yelled at me for hanging out with him. Thank you #BossMom for showing me how to be compassionate to all, have goodness in our hearts at all times even when we don’t want to.

If you can imagine what my #BossMom had to face raising 5 boys, working 24/7 for pennies. She had no choice but to leave the cage open and hope for the best. But when she demanded something, now meant RIGHT NOW. You know who wore the britches, who’s bark was dominant. I am thankful for my #BossMom for showing me what strength looks like, to keep fighting the good fight even in the darkness.

With these I confess for which I am grateful for, all play a part in who I am today. #BossMom should be pictured on my driver’s license and mentioned first with any of my accomplishments. My #BossMom passed at the young age of 53, from what I believe was stress, burnt out, lack of sleep but she wouldn’t have shown or told you that. My #BossMom would tell you to pull back those tears and keep it moving. There is no time to waste.