Survive and flourish
"Growing up in a divorced household meant some struggles for us. I want to thank my mom for teaching me to survive—to flourish even—under strenuous circumstances. Becoming a mom myself, and knowing how demanding motherhood can be, I'm grateful that my mother maintained her strength."
—Vanessa Martinez Bell
Pick your battles
"I thank my mom for showing me that picking the right battles in parenthood is more important than trying to be a perfect parent. I might not have understood some things when I was younger, but now that I have kids, I appreciate them and love her more for the way she raised us. I love you, mami!"
—Denisse Icaza
Pray
"Growing up, my mom would sneak into my room to silently pray over me at night; it's a beautiful habit that I've now carried on with my own children. Praying for the health and safety of my kids while they sleep gives me personal satisfaction and it's something that I'm grateful to have learned from my mother."
—Liz Cerezo
6-be-yourself
"Mami, thank you for teaching me to be an individual and to never let anyone change me. You refused to let me just be a follower and thanks to you, I learned to be strong and hope to teach that to my daughter now that I'm a mom, too."
—Yolanda Machado
Don't get lost in the chaos
"My mom always gave herself 20 minutes each morning before my siblings and I were up. I would sometimes catch her stretching after a very early workout or adding the finishing touches to her makeup or outfit. She taught me to not lose myself in the chaos of what being a mom is all about. Even if it is just 20 minutes in a day, I want to give that to myself. Gracias, mami!"
—Betty Velasco Galvan
Nurture yourself
"I want to thank my mami for teaching me that any sacrifice we make for our kids is worth it, but we must never lose ourselves in the process. We must continue nurturing ourselves in order to nurture our children. One day the bird will fly and we don't want to regret being alone in the nest."
—Ana Flores
