Happy Birthday to my best friend --- My mom


Teddy says "Happy Birthday" too!
 I know everyone thinks that their mother is the best mother in the world (as they should) but without giving any disrespect to all the moms out there I like to think my "mummy" (what I call her) is "certified triple platinum" in the mothering department.

My mother goes very hard.

Ever since I could remember, my mother has been the biggest cheerleader, advocate, and sometimes warrior for me and my three siblings. I am the oldest of four children and I know my mother has never slept more than five hours a night, has never ever "slept in",  has never taken a vacation, and I think she may have only had three hot meals since I've been alive -- she is always putting everyone first.

My mom is the first, the last, and the only "Advoc8te" and she went to bat for me every single day in every single thing I did (and a few things I  didn't want to do).  From standing up to teachers in elementary school who wanted to force me to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, to staying up all night sewing (by hand) my complex Halloween costumes, to putting together a throne "McGyver style" in 20 minutes because I just had to have one for my play, for printing and binding my short stories, to helping me get accepted into the Gifted and Talented program (and later helping me get over the nervousness of being the only black female in the entire school), and even for requiring written reports for all the shows I wanted to watch during Summer break. When I went away to college it was my mom who helped me pack, told me I would be a success, and even proof-read my assignments over the phone.

Without her, there would be no me, so today I want to wish my mom, Denise (who reads my blog faithfully every day), a very special  "Happy Birthday".

Always,

The Advoc8te

P.S. I would have included a picture of my mom in this post but she would have killed me.  My mom is awesome but she still scares me a little lol.