From those who made me a Mother

In celebration of Mother's Day 2018, local Patch readers were asked to write a letter to their mother and let Patch.com deliver it. In recognition of this year's mother's day, I'm posting the letter Francisco submitted for me. Our family has changed just a bit over the past two years (like the addition of Mateo!), but the sentiment of this letter is just too special not to share. I will be forever grateful to my supportive husband, my surrogate children, and my biological children for making me a mother, and giving meaning to this day for me.

I write this tribute on behalf of my daughter, Maya, who will be 1 year old at the end of this month, and not quite ready to use a computer yet. She and I would like to thank her mom, Mae Waugh Barrios, for being an amazing mom — not only to little Maya, but to all of the Barrios family.

Although she has been a biological mother for just less than a year now, she has mothered my family with unconditional love for years. When we got married in 2014, she had no idea she would become a mother to all of us, but she took on the role with passion and for all she has done, we are overwhelmingly grateful.

Mae had always dreamed of being a mother, and even as a teenager said she wanted to adopt. Her chance came just four months after our marriage, when Mae and I took in my youngest brother and sister (then 16 and 13 years old) after the death of my mom.

Immediately after their arrival from Guatemala, Mae helped them learn English and become accustomed to their new life here in the U.S. For my brothers, sisters, and me, she has held the role of translator, teacher, mentor, advocate and mom.

Unfortunately it took us many years to finally conceive and carry to term our rainbow baby, Maya, but I always knew we would receive a baby of our own, because Mae had so lovingly taking care of everyone else in our family. She deserved to be a mother herself.

But even as our own biological family began to grow, Mae continued to take care of our extended family. When my niece needed a temporary foster home, she welcomed this other young member into our family without hesitation.

If a mother is someone who is patient, kind, selfless, slow to anger, protective, determined and strong, Mae is the best mother I know, and I'm proud to call her Mama Barrios.

Love,

Francisco, Maya, Mateo, Sofia, and all the Barrios family

Comments

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