Who has been impactful in your journey as a mother? What lessons do you carry with you and share often through motherhood?

Someone who has been impactful in my journey as a mother was my maternal grandmother. She used to tell me that “patience is a virtue” and was one of the most patient individuals I have known in my life. I have always tried to emulate the patience she had and realized when my son was high school/college age that I had learned valuable lessons from her. My son one day told me that he was able to talk to me about anything without my reacting, judging, or lecturing. That was the best compliment I could have received.

What continues to inspire you in your motherhood journey?

When trying to be a good mother, I had many sources of inspiration including my mother and my father. Dad was the breadwinner and mom a homemaker, both were very involved in raising us (4 children). Both led by example, teaching us to be compassionate, giving, and spending time with family for special events, holidays, and every day cherishing the time with family. My son has also inspired me and has taught me that there is nothing you cannot do if you put your mind to it and work hard.

How has being a mom shaped your life?

Being a mother has changed me and has shaped my outlook on life in general. With my upbringing, we were taught to put other’s first that included my child, often putting my needs second. Learning to, “don’t sweat the small stuff”, in these times, image, appearance, job, status is still important to some, but does not significant meaning to me anymore. Things that I thought seemed important, don’t seem as important to me. I find myself laughing at a lot of things that seem silly to me now, that I took seriously at one time. Especially laughing at myself.