My Aunt Maricela and Mom

My Mom was born on July 5, 1963 in Mexicali Baja California, Mexico. She has two brothers and three sisters. She moved to America with her family when she was 9. I admire my mom's determination. She did not know how to speak English and taught her self by watching T.V.

My mom's high school senior picture, Age 17.

By age 17, my mother was married and had her first son, my big brother Cornelius. I admire my mom because she is brave. Her first marriage was emotionally and physically abusive, but she stayed and made it work until my big brother was old enough to understand why she had to divorce his father. Her parents did not approve of the divorce. My mother was brave because she left him with no support from her family and shared custody 50/50 with her ex. When my mom saw how the living situation was effecting my brother, she asked him what he wanted. By this time she was married to my father and traveling a lot because of his work. Cornelius did not want to travel anymore and asked if he could live with his father. Even though it killed my mom to give full custody to her ex, she made that sacrifice because it was what my brother wanted and she wanted what was best for him.

At age 26, my mother met my father got married and had triplets. Katherine is one minute older than Me, and Kimberly is one minute younger than me. I admire my mother because she thought having triplets were a blessing. Almost 2 years later came my brother Andrew.

I admire my mom because she is strong. When I was 7, my father left my mom with no job, no money, and no car. I have no idea how my mom did it, but she raised us alone.

My mother is a super hero. She found time to coach my soccer team while working 3 jobs. She work as a waitress at waffle house, a cook and the concession stands where we played soccer, and a secretary for an owner of a cab company. When she was not working or coaching, she found time to study and get a certification as a insurance adjuster for a lawyer's company.

I was 15 when she met Mike. He had two sons from his first marriage. Although they are not blood, We see them as real brothers.