As we are in Women’s History Month, we can think about all the strong and courageous women who came before and accomplished great things. Still, I want to think about the women who are around us. The women who are part of our lives, who support, help and love us. So, today I choose to write short letters of gratitude and acknowledgement to women in my life, the ones who take care of me, the ones who teach me new things, the ones I know I can call anytime, the ones I love. And I am pretty sure you have your own ones.
Para ti, mami (for you, mom)
You have been with me even before I was born, you carried me in your body and in your arms. You fed me, you cooked for me and made my favorite dishes. You taught me how to read and write. You played with me and brushed my hair, and you woke me up in the morning every day for school. You helped me with my homework, and you gave me advice when I didn’t know what to do. You put bandages on my wounds and made natural remedies when I had a cold.
You ran to the hospital when I was sick, and you stayed awake all night beside my bed. You let me sleep with you when I was afraid or sad. You ran after me and got a backache when I was learning how to walk. You cried when I said my first word. But you also cried when I was rude to you—I’m sorry. You laughed when I bought you a birthday gift with your own money, and when I gave you a “beautiful” drawing—it was more than horrible.
You have done so much for me, you are doing so much for me, and I know you will do so much for me. I love it when I go home, and you ask me about what I want to eat or what I want to do. I love that you love watching movies and/or series with me. I love that you make time to put a jigsaw puzzle together with me—I love doing it. I love it when you go with me for a walk. I love being with you.
Gracias, mami (Thanks, mom)—I promise I will translate this for you, or maybe I should teach you English so you can read this by yourself. I don’t have enough words or space to thank you for all your love, time, effort, patience, care and more that you have given to me.
¡Te amo, mamá! Love you, mom!
Para ustedes, abuelitas (for you, grandmas)
Thank you for all the pampering, Grandma. Thank you for cooking my favorite dishes only because I was there. Thank you for the money you gave me “secretly” every time you saw me. Thank you for all the ice cream and candies you shouldn’t have given me, but you did. Thank you for picking me up from school and watching over me in the park.
Thank you for your nasty cough remedies that somehow made me feel better. Thank you for taking care of me when my parents couldn’t. Thank you for telling me I was being a bad daughter and telling me more about my mom’s and dad’s childhood. Thank you for telling me your story, so I could be able to understand all the opportunities I have now—that you didn’t have. And I would be able to know that I can be as strong and resilient as you were because I am your grandchild. Thank you for showing off all my “accomplishments” with your friends.
Te extraño, abuelita (I miss you, grandma). I hope I can see you soon, and thank you in person for everything you have done for me. I hope we can soon read the Bible together, so I can read to you your favorite verses and write your notes in the margin as we did when I was a kid every night.
¡Las quiero, abuelitas! Love you, grandmas!
Para ti, hermana (for you, sis)
Well, I’m so sorry for painting over your homework, but come on, I was like 4 years old. Sorry for telling our parents that you were lying to them, but I was 8 years old, and I was just so innocent to know I should have lied as well—but sincerely, why lie? Sorry for not understanding you, but you were an adolescent, and I was a kid. Ok, let’s stop the excuses. I’m sorry for everything I did that hurt you. I am just your little sister who wanted to do all the things you were doing. I just wanted to follow you and be like you—more excuses, I know, but I love you, sis.
Thanks, sis, for playing with me, even after we had an accident, and our parents only punished you because you were the older sister. Thanks for watching with me the anime and series I liked when we only had one computer in our house—you lost the opportunity to watch the ones you liked just for me. Thanks for lending me your clothes when I was old enough to use them. Thanks for making desserts with me—well, I was watching you, but you still said we made it together. Thank you for distracting me when our parents had strong arguments, and I was scared—you let me sleep with you and chose the movie for the night. Thank you for including me in your plans with your friends when you knew I would like what you were doing or where you were going.
You have been in my life since I have memory, you have given me good and not so good examples and advice, but you have always been by my side, pushing me forward. You have told me that if you were able, I would be able to, and even more, you told me I would surpass you because I was more intelligent, stronger, braver and more beautiful than you—you really like lying, don’t you? I think we both share the same intelligence, strength, bravery and beauty. After all, we grew up together, we share the same genes and blood; one can’t be more than the other. However, you’ve got to learn English or another language besides Spanish—I am winning in that aspect. But you got a job, so maybe we are tied. We've got to cook something together soon—now that I actually know how to cook. Las arepas me quedan increíbles (My arepas are to die for).
¡Te amo, hermanita! Love you sis!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.