This post is brought to you by the makers of Pine-Sol® Products. I have partnered with them to spread the word about the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign and sweepstakes. To enter the sweepstakes, visit www.womenRiseAboveIt.com. All opinions and stories are my own.
There is a reason why football players usually dedicate a championship, touchdown, or anything major in their lives to their mothers. This is because moms rock. At least I know mine does. My mother embodies all of those things that I love about being a woman. She did not allow her humble beginnings to determine her future. My mother grew up first of ten kids in Antigua back in the 1940s. Before going to school, she would have to tend to the cows, chickens, and whatever livestock they had running around then.
In addition to taking care of all those responsibilities, my mother was expected to be the surrogate mother for her siblings. My mother was always telling me that Grandma would wake her up in the middle of the night to rock, burp, or change her siblings. When she realized that her life would be slowly sucked out of her by being a caretaker to her ever-growing ungrateful family, my mother looked for an out.
Instead of pursuing her dream of being a lawyer in Antigua, she saved herself and took a boat to England to be a midwife. In addition to becoming a registered nurse, she earned two master’s degrees in Health Administration and Public Health even after my father abandoned his wife and two children. (Sidenote—she ended up taking a course in paralegal studies just to see if could have made it as a lawyer; she took it and said it was too much reading for her.)
My mom is now in her seventies and retired and tells me that she has lived a life without many regrets. She says that her education allowed her to be self-sufficient, confident, and comfortable in her own skin. As her only daughter and the baby of the family, I was what she liked to say, “foot-to-foot behind her” growing up; I was always up under her. A real mama’s girl. I am a grown woman and still make sure that I check in with her on most mornings before I start my work day. My mother is a tremendous woman and I hope I soaked up enough of her wisdom to be half the woman that she is.
To recognize and celebrate the remarkable women among us, Pine-Sol® is teaming up with actress and activist Rosie Perez to launch the ‘When Life Gets Tough, Women Rise Above It’ campaign. From November 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, women across the country are encouraged to contribute their own stories of triumph to Pine-Sol’s moving collection of stories by visitingwww.womenRiseAboveIt.com.
As part of the campaign, Pine-Sol awarded a $25,000 donation to Women Empowered, a nonprofit based in Los Angeles that connects, educates and supports women of all ages and backgrounds, inspiring them to give back to their communities.
Pine-Sol® Lady, Diane Amos, counts her mom Pearl as a driving force in her life:
If you have a story of perseverance, then this is your chance to share it with the world and to inspire other women who may also be going through challenges. Also, by entering your story, you will have a chance to win many great prizes, such as:
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