Since I started story telling on my blog last summer,
I knew I wanted to blog my Mom for Mother's Day.
This is not only a celebration of who she is,
but also a celebration of who her Mom is in her life,
as well as a celebration of all Mom's.
Meet my Mom.
Childhood:
She says,
"I can say that my Mom tried to provide me with everything I wanted.
It was fun, cool, simple, good to be a kid.
We enjoyed life more I think, you know, before all of the technology.
Everyone would go to the pool, we knew where everybody was at, it was nice.
It was just like you see in the movies, we would ride bikes all around town.
Over all I had a good childhood, I think.
Except when we were going through what Mom went through being in
an abusive relationship that we all had to live through.
-That only lasted until I was five and then we were done with that.
After that it was just peaceful..
and it was just Mom.
She was both Mom and Dad. She always had birthday parties for us.
She worked all the time and every Friday she would bring home McDonalds for me
-a quarter pounder with cheese, a hot fudge sundae with nuts, and a large french fry." She laughs.
"Grandpa lived with us, so I got to experience time with him.
He was in a wheelchair and so Mom would take care of him all of the time.
Elizabeth was there till she was 15, and had to grow up kind of fast, so it was just me.
Jose came in the picture when I was 7.
I was a tom boy. Dirt bikes, skateboards, all of it.
You never found me in dresses.
I wasn't scared of anything; I would do anything probably."
High school:
"I was a really good student up until high school. When I was a teenager I got a little rebellious..
well not a little rebellious, probably a lot." She laughs.
"I think because I had a lot freedom (since Mom had to work, obviously) during the summer time,
when I was 8th grade, that's when it all started.. I also hung out with older kids.
My experiences I guess have led my to who I am, though.
Maybe that's why I like working with kids and juveniles
-because I was a handful and put my Mom through a lot."
Teen Mom:
"In high school, I messed up one whole school year and had to graduate one year late.
And with all of the freedom I had is when I got pregnant at 17.
I kept it hidden to myself and then I was at your Dad's house one day
and she called me telling me that she thought I was pregnant.
She took me to the doctors and found out I was 7 months pregnant and she was devastated.
She wondered how as a Mom she could have missed that, but then again I didn't look like I was pregnant.
It was hard because everyone was more traditional back then so that's why I kept it hidden.
When I got pregnant with you, seriously, that pretty much switched my life around and got me back on track.
Before I was always in trouble, always out late running around and Mom would have to come find me,
but then I got pregnant, had you, and re-did the 12th grade and it was the first time being on the honor roll again.
Then I decided to go to college and graduated on the dean's list. Just sayin'." She laughs.
Lieutenant Garza:
My mom has worked in Juvenile Corrections
for 16 years and became a Lieutenant in 2014.
"In college, I started off thinking of going into human services,
but I didn't care for it that much.
Then corrections caught my attention.
Work is interesting.
It's sad, but I have been there for a long time so it must be for a reason.
It's satisfying helping kids and then you get kids who call and say:
'Hey Garza, just wanted to let you know I'm doing good.'
He hadn't been there for two years, but still thinks about us, you know.
Because I think we have a lot to do in their lives
trying to help them get through their hard times, and that makes it worth being there."
I asked her what the hardest part about the job and
"it's getting attached and then them leaving
or them leaving and they fail and aren't doing good.
The overall hardest thing working in that environment is seeing the kids struggle.
Some of them don't have parents who care and they are being let down or their parent don't visit.
Also, when you see the kids who like us and would rather be with us then at home and that's sad.
I try not to bring it home, but there are moments where I have to run up front and collect myself because
its hard to see those kids when they are hurting and crying and missing their family.
Overall I like the job and knowing that we have helped."
I asked what she thinks makes her a good fit.
She says, "because I've lived it.
I once had to spend the weekend there and I hated it.
I also have a strong personality, so when I go in there I am pretty confident in myself.
When I first started, the kids said I was intimidating. I don't see it in myself, because
I know what kind of person I am, but people have always said that about me.
Even back when I worked at the factory, they put me with a group of people and they were all scared of me,
and they didn't even know me.
Then they love me and they say, 'I was so scared of you at first',
and I'm like why? You guys are ridiculous.
The kids at the jail always say to me:
'Officer Garza, I'm scared of you',
but they have a lot of respect for me.
I have earned it, it built up over time; I think it's being firm with them and keeping them in line,
but also understanding them.
They want structure. They may act like they don't, but they do because they don't have that at home.
Also, I talk really well with people.
I'm a people person, very sociable and I am a leader."
Heritage:
Anyone who knows my Mom knows that she is super proud of her heritage.
I asked what makes her so proud.
She said that it's because she's experienced her culture.
"My grandfather who was from Mexico lived in my house when I was growing up.
Mom's cooking and Mom's music and also going to Mexico with Jose and Mom every year when I was young.
I just loved it. I don't know what it was.
I loved the rancho lifestyle, the dirt roads, the horses and the roosters crowing in the morning, to this day.
I even got baptized in Mexico.
I never was able to speak Spanish, but when I turned 13 and 14 I learned it.
Grandma and Jose would throw me out to play with other kids my age in Mexico
who only spoke Spanish, so I picked it up that way.
You learn from being in the environment.
One time Jose and his brother got a donkey and they took Mom and I to the mountains.
I rode it, Jose pulled it, and we went to look at the Indian ruins and cut down cacti, ate sugar cane
and went to the little festivals they had in town. I got to experience that life and live humble.
I just love Mexico. It's a beautiful, beautiful place and I'm glad I got to experience that."
A celebration of moms:
My mom say's,
"I remember when Mom got cancer
-her hair was falling out and that was the only time I saw her cry.
I was a teenager.. she was in her robe combing her hair
and she just put her head down and shook her head.
When Grandpa died, she was strong. When Aunt Mary died she was so strong.
I don't ever, ever remember her being weak.
I think the strength that she has, made us who we all are too.
I am also glad I got my Mom's work ethic.
I always saw her busting her butt for the things that we had. I always worked, then I went to college.
Working as a single mom I worry a lot.
I worry that I can't spend enough time with your brothers.
I also get scared because they are getting older now.
It's just hard being a single Mom because you feel like you can never win.
I can try to be there and get off work for certain things, but others things I just can't be there.
I think I manage it pretty well because once I put my mind to something I stick with it,
like if I want to be able to travel and do things for the kids."
Mom, I hope you enjoyed your blog.
I know you will have a great Mother's Day as
we will all be together in Florida!!
I admire your strength and natural beauty,
boldness and confidence,
willpower and ambition.
The thing I am most grateful for you as a mother
is for you loving me unconditionally
in every season of my life.
Through the good and the bad,
and the ugly teenage years. Lol.
Love you Mom.