I AM SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER

 I came into this world on April 7, 1971, to two young parents who have now celebrated 53 years together. At the age of 18, my father, who had lost a hand in a gun accident at 14, joined the local painter's union. Not long after, he was given the chance to take over the business he had been working for. For the next 38 years, my parents worked side by side, building a successful painting business until my father's health issues led to his retirement. From them, I learned the art of navigating life's challenges and the invaluable lesson of never giving up on oneself.

Parenting is often compared to being pecked to death by chickens, and there's some truth to that! It's undeniably the toughest job out there, but it's also the most heartwarming, amusing, and fulfilling. Being entrusted with a little human's well-being and growth is both daunting and exhilarating. As a mother of two boys and the stepmother of two girls. I firmly believe that thriving is about "who they are" rather than "what they do". The unique qualities our kids have developed are simply remarkable - they are resilient, thoughtful, creative, bright, and hardworking. Each of them is truly a gift.