Hey Sugar Plum,
I know things are a bit crazy right now, your senior year of high school will do that to you, but I need you to know the craziness will pay off when you secure your vibrant future. Take your grandmother for instance, she is one of the most hard-working people I know, look how much her hard work has paid off.

As you know, Nana is a very passionate woman; Her love for me and her determination for a better life fueled her each day. At multiple points in her life, your grandmother worked between three and four jobs to make it in this country as a single mother. She would wake up between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. to get me ready for school (I was not a morning person, so she struggled with me the same way I struggle getting you out of bed on time) and get herself ready for work, which would result in her traveling long distances to work long hours. There would be times where I wouldn’t get to see her until my bedtime as a child. As if the early mornings weren’t enough, grandma would categorize her multiple jobs as daily, weekly, and bi-weekly, to keep the jobs from interfering with each other. There were times where she would have to work two jobs in one day to follow her job schedule. She did this for many years to ensure we were financially stable as a family of two. She made sure we had a roof over our heads, food in our stomachs and that I enjoyed my childhood.

I had the best childhood because of your Nana. On her days off we would go on adventures to my favorite book store, to museums and to the park, where I’d ride my bike for hours. Other times we would just spend time together after our long week of work and school. Those days were my favorite. Grandma taught me how to cook and how to sew, the same way she taught you on the front porch when you were little. We took that time to reconnect and it allowed me to know that my mom was present even though she worked hard. She took the time to install values in me when we spent time together to prepare me for adulthood. Our house was filled with love and she became my motivation as I got older.

Grandma sacrificed being with her family to give me the opportunity to be great. Living thousands of miles from the ones you love takes its toll when you miss important holidays, birthdays and family events. It was the small things that made her feel connected, she talked to her sisters, Yvette, Annette and Angie, on phone multiple times a day. They were her support system. If you thought they talk a lot now, you should’ve heard them back then. They gave your Nana the love and support she needed to carry on. She would reminisce about childhood memories and find ways to connect with more family members to feel better.
As grandma did for me, and as I have done for you, you must put in the effort to work hard and create the life you want for yourself. Find the opportunities that dare you to challenge yourself. The late hours and early mornings are only temporary. I promise when you accomplish your goals, you’re going to look back and see just how far your dedication carried you. When times are hard, think of your grandmother. Her never ending strength and love, she is our guide. Take your life into your own hands as your future awaits to be discovered. Grandma and I are always here for you, whether it’s a mid-week reset dinner or late-night calls to give you the strength you need. Don’t forget to breathe honey, we’re beyond proud of you!
Love you forever,
Mommy

Written by Renee McGaw