I AM SOMEONE'S DAUGHTER

 I was born to two teen parents who have now celebrated 54 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. 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. 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.