My mother didn’t intend to be the head of the household, but after my Dad made some really bad choices and had to serve several years of a sentence at a white collar correctional facility, she was quickly thrust into the role. She managed rocky finances, came within a centimeter of losing our home and had to quickly support the family with young children. And with help from close family and treasured friends, she kept it together. She raised us as a real, single mother, without weekend and Wednesday help and with no support checks. I don’t know how she did it but she remained strong, not bitter, and set an amazing example of how someone can pull herself out of someone else’s mess gracefully and proudly. I don’t thank her enough, but she is the bravest, strongest woman I know and we are forever grateful that she kept it together for us, and we turned out to be compassionate, successful women who are good mothers, wives, employees and volunteers.
