Life in Orange County

A love letter to my mom

Published on May 8, 2015

This conversation is sponsored. All thoughts and ideas remain my own.

My mom is my biggest fan, and I’m one to always root for her too. She has been a great role model for me, and all I’ve ever asked for is to be at least half the mom that she has been to me.

My mom has given me so much, but nothing that I love more than the confidence of just getting out there and doing it. She believes in me so much, and many times, even more than I believe in myself. Sometimes I’m not exactly sure what she sees in me, but I like to imagine that she sees herself in me.

My mom has a great sense of adventure, and I want to believe that I inherited that from her. She is always up for anything, including surprise birthday trips that I like to plan for her every year. It’s always nice to have a girls-only weekend!

Then unfortunately, there are things about her that I just did not inherit. Cooking talent is one of them. I’m a horrible cook. I can reheat a tamale like a pro, and I have a few dishes (okay, maybe just one) that I can whip up with no problem. But that’s about it.

As an adult, my connection to my mom has only gotten stronger. And that’s why I buy products and foods that remind me of her. It’s why I buy Mexican squash instead of the regular zucchini, and why I sprinkle Suavitel Fragrance Pearls in my wash instead of just using fabric softener. She strengthens my connection to my culture in ways that she doesn’t even realize.

I am incredibly grateful for my mom. She has been incredibly inspiring, loving and caring. She’s a great mom and abuelita, and I hope that I have made her proud.