Happy Birthday Mom

The definition of a hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. Everyday we walk past heroes who have given life and limb for this country. But lets not forget those heroes that change this country, this world, from the inside out. I’m talking about people like my parents. Because today is my mother’s birthday, I am going to write the rest of this with her in mind even though all of what I say can be related to my father as well.

I want to begin by telling you about a woman for which my mom has been a hero. Dawn met my mother 15 years ago when her son was taking piano lessons from my dad. I do not know the details of my mom’s relationship with her, but from what I can tell, they were just average friends, someone you would see and chat with at the grocery store. In the past 15 years Dawn has become almost incapacitated mentally and physically by a disease that will eventually take her life. Her family has removed themselves from her, with exception of an older son who takes advantage of her state by stealing money from her. To make a long story short, my mom agreed to become Dawn’s legal guardian.

In doing so, My mother has sacrificed weeks of her time to helping Dawn do everything: buying clothes, taking her to doctor visits, cleaning and organizing her home, and getting her into an assisted living program. Most of this was done with a lot of resistance from a fearful Dawn and her 27 year old son who continually threatened my mom. To protect her from the son, my dad would join her, or when he was working, other large men accompany her, sometimes even the police. But my mother didn’t stop there, she continued to care for and serve Dawn.

Today Dawn is laughing, smiling, gaining weight, and partially independent. Recently my mother asked Dawn what her dreams and wishes are, and what she wanted to do before she died. My mom has taken it upon herself to help fulfill as many of these dreams as she can. My mom spends hours on the phone trying to find people that Dawn wants to see, books flights, and makes arrangements to get her from place to place. Because of my mom’s sacrifice, courage, and love, this woman has the opportunity to enjoy the rest of her life.

My mom is also known as Mrs. Amber by 100 or so special needs kindergarten kids. Mrs. Amber works fulltime a classroom leader and as a social worker for kids who have drug addicted parents, and other unhealthy living situations. Five days a week she teaches these kids the basics of a functioning human being, something that they don’t always get at home. She loves and cares for these kids, disciplining them, encouraging them, and giving them the chance to become healthy people. Not only does she do this for little kids, she does it for the big kids (their parents) too.

In the 5 years she has been working as a teacher she has influenced and changed the lives of these little people. Many of them won’t know or remember her in 10 years, but she changed their lives. She doesn’t do it for the glory, because there isn’t a lot that comes with her job. She does it because she loves the kids, and cares for people. She is a hero for these families and deserves to be recognized.

That’s where I come in. While she has been selflessly giving herself to these people, she manages to love her husband, raise two boys, be a loving sister, be a caring daughter, be a true friend, be a strong woman of God, and keep the house clean! My brother and I are blessed to be one of the few kids in our group of friends with parents that are still married. Not to toot my own horn, but I think she has done an awesome job at being a mom and raising two young men. I have grown to realize that I have the best mom, the best parents a son could ask for. She is a hero to me, her family, her friends, and to each life she manages to touch.

I love you mom. I pray for you every day. Happy birthday.