Going in circles (pt 2)

Today I had a conversation with my amazing mother. This is the person who has been my resident thought partner, expectation/bar setter, advice giver and if I am in any room and she is there, she loves me the most.

It is difficult to think of something I could not talk to her about. I love my Niecy. She gave me the opportunity to be there for her, to listen and love her.

We both work in education. She is a career changer! My mother went back to school to get her BA and then MA and now works with students with special needs (which I believe are all students...). Leaving the familiar structure of decades of call center work, she believed in herself and sought out more. Manifesting courage, she pushed on despite rip-offs disguised as certification tests and schools of low expectations disguised as job opportunities. However, occasionally, she must still remind other humans that she is not only also a human, but that she is indeed an amazing human deserving of respect and appreciation for the love she gives.

I believe in her. I believe that anyone that meets her, students, parents, teachers, people on the bus, and anyone else is lucky. She came to me to talk tonight, and it is the best thing that happened all day. I am not excited about my mother being upset, I am appreciative that I was chosen as the confidant. Also, this is not the first time she has chosen me. I do think this is the first time I can clearly frame this as an honor.

Niecy, I love you and you are the epitome of a strong black woman. You push me to be my best self. Thank you for sharing with me and letting me share with you. I am a proud daughter and woman. I am Gold because of you.