For Those who Paved the Way
Mother’s Day 2019

by Kate Sanchez

I’ll admit it, I’ve never been a “girl’s girl”. I never bonded with a group of women in high school, college, or now, for that matter. My style is often an afterthought, my makeup application is always on a whim, and a ponytail comes far more natural to me than do curls. My entire life, I’ve built stronger bonds with men, something that’s still true, even now. Perhaps its because I’d rather be out in the arena with them than I would be cheering them on in the stands, or something along those lines; but nonetheless, it’s still a small chip on my shoulder today.
While I’ve struggled for as long as I can remember to forge friendships with my female counterparts, I’ve always been a supporter of strong women. I was raised and taught by them to be independent, yet unselfish. They showed me that being unique is special and not a downfall, and that supporting women is far more important than being liked by all of them. I was taught by the best- and we celebrate them and their kind this Mother’s Day.

My mom is strong. She’s resilient, she’s a fighter and I’ve always admired her. When I was little, she coached and refereed some of my youth soccer games over the years. I vividly remember a photo that was snapped of her, she was running with a whistle in one hand, and both of her feet were off the ground. I recall telling myself time and time again, whenever I saw the picture, that she was so spectacular that she floated when she ran. Of course, we all know that’s not necessarily possible, but in my youthful mind, that was my mom in a nutshell. She never missed a sporting event of mine or my sister’s. She attended every meeting, every show, and every banquet. She laughed at every joke, picked out prom and wedding dresses with us both, wiped away every tear, and has held our babies in her arms with the enormous love only a grandmother can.

When I was in the 5th grade my sister and I were blessed to gain a stepmom. She stepped into a world of two pre-teen/teenage girls and never tried to be a replacement for our mom; she simply let us know she’d be there for us, not only by her words, but her actions too. My stepmom is fun. She’s bold and loves to laugh. She’s crafty and talented and loves her family like nothing else. She’s the type of lady that you can go to about anything. She’s not judgmental but she’s truthful, and I admire that about her.

Related by blood, marriage, or simply through a mutual friendship; we celebrate the women who shape our lives in so many ways. Grandmas, moms, fur-moms, step moms, moms-to-be, and hopeful moms who are in the journey to motherhood…today, we celebrate you all. Because if I’ve learned nothing else in life, it’s that all women whom I’ve crossed paths with, moms or not, have taught me something.

These days, one of my biggest concerns is our daughter, and whether I’m doing a good job at this “mom” thing. But then I think about my childhood and how I needed very little, bur received so much. I never needed material things, and I certainly never needed better parents. Today and all days, I’m blessed to celebrate that I’m a mom, who was shaped by fantastic parents, and left me with the yearning to follow in their footsteps, among other things. Although challenging at times, I’m equipped to be a strong woman and even stronger mom for our daughter, because I had great role-models.

One of my goals is to not only display mannerisms I’d like for our daughter to mimic, but also show her the way to a life of fulfillment, as my parents did. The women who paved the way for me have made me realize exactly what my aspirations for myself are, while raising a daughter:

Dream big. Show your little ones that life is meant to be lived with a purpose greater than they can ever imagine. If you don’t pursue your dreams yourself, why will your children ever believe they can do the same? Teach responsibility. If you happened to grow up in an environment where responsibility wasn’t exemplified, change that now. Show your kids what accountability means every day. Respect your spouse. Love them hard. Be fair to them, and make sure they grant you the same reverence. Have patience. With your kids, your co-workers, your spouse, but most of all yourself. We’re all running around in this rat-race called life…don’t get wrapped up in all that’s wrong. Give yourself a little grace. Get your hands dirty and let them know they can too. In our house, dirty bath water at the end of the day signified some of the best times we had as kids. Make time to create these memorable moments as a family.

Remember to thank an important lady in your life this Mother’s Day weekend- and let them know not only how much you appreciate and love them, but how they helped to shape you in becoming the person you are today!