The Working Mom: Lessons on Life & Love

The Working Mom: Lessons of Life & Love

I grew up in an affluent city called Arcadia where the majority of my peers were from wealthy families. Business Owners. Real Estate Owners. Restaurant Owners. My Mom chose to be an Elementary School Teacher. From an early age, I felt the effects of being of a lower socioeconomic background. My friends would buy extravagant presents during birthday parties. I had to wonder if I could attend that school dance the next quarter. But my Mom worked a 9-5 to make sure that I was not only part of the school events, but that I was respected among my peers. There were times I would go over to my friend’s two story homes and watch their Mom catering to us as a stay at home mom. “Do you want any brownies?” “Do you want to play outside?” “What do you do at school?” It almost felt like a nuisance to have my friend’s Mom’s following us around, while my Mom was working around the clock, came home, and still did all the housework. My Mom was a working parent and I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

Watching my Mom as a working parent taught me so much about life. She showed me that it is possible for an immigrant to move to another country and learn another language. People would compliment my Mom’s English stating that she had perfect diction. “Your Mom is so good at English!” “Yes, because she’s smart!” My Mom immigrated to California and graduated from two top universities in Southern California. She chose to be a teacher because she felt a need to help kids further their education. She could have become a professor or someone with higher prestige but she specifically had a calling to teach kids. For over 20 years, my Mom has taught elementary kids in a lower school district in Los Angeles under LAUSD. Her dedication, work ethic, commitment, and tenacious attitude has not only inspired me, but so many kids who wouldn’t have any other role model. These kids are from broken homes and many of the kids go into gang violence when they get older. My Mom, as their teacher, is their only role model and safe place; as she spent her whole working career dedicated to them. My Mom was a working parent, and I am so proud of her.

In 2016 my Mom’s husband suddenly passed away. During that time, my Mom took a couple months off and went straight back to work. She knew that she needed to show by example how to be strong during difficult times. Her inner strength is something that I admired my whole life. She takes the metro and bus to get to work, and still teaches until this day. A Boss Mom is not just someone who leads in the front. It’s not just the type A personality who barks orders at people. It’s not the person who has a six figure salary and retires early. A Boss Mom is a Mom who chooses to work day and night to provide for their family. A Boss Mom is a Mom who invites their kid’s friends over when they have to work the next day. A Boss Mom is a Mom who puts $20 in your wallet when you’re not looking so you can go to that school dance. A Boss Mom is a Mom who teaches in a low income school so that kids can have hope and a future. Let me tell you about my Mom- the Working Parent. The Boss. The Teacher. My inspiration. My role model. My hero. Let me tell you about my Mom.