Dear Friend,
Happy Mother’s Day from my family to yours.
I am not going to lie, this can be a hard day for me — my Mom passed away after a long fight with cancer back in 2004. I was just 13 years old. I miss her terribly, every single day.
Here’s a photo of my Mom alongside me, my twin sister, Ida, and our big brother, Arya. This photo, circa 1995, is from a wedding my family attended. My Mom actually made all our outfits by hand — she was a big-hearted person, worked incredibly hard, and was a talented seamstress, too.
Her last job before she passed away was at K-Mart, and there were many late nights when my twin sister and I would be at K-Mart with my Mom to help her fold clothes and get home at a decent time. She would stay up late with me too, especially to help me finish my homework (which I always had a habit of being a perfectionist with).
Working late has become a norm for me into adulthood, and I like to think she is still keeping me company, just in a different way.
This Mother’s Day, I am remembering my Mom — and honoring her legacy through action. We must recommit ourselves to women’s equality, family-support programs, anti-poverty initiatives, and ensuring people have the freedom to decide when or when not to parent.
However you plan to recognize this day, know that I am right there with you and eternally grateful to all of our moms and mom figures.
Onward,
Rep. Anna V. Eskamani