After my Father died, my Mother (with a 6th grade education from a 3rd world Latin country) came to New York City with her mother and my brother and I in tow. She worked in a sweat shop in the garment district until she could buy a home (in her 50’s) in Florida......never did she take welfare.
She put me thru Catholic school. My brother served our country by enlisting in the Army. Although I never was fortunate to attend college, my children are or are studying to be professionals. She dearly loved America, and would quickly rebuke those who complained or whined.
On my wall hangs the flag she held when she became a citizen, proudly framed. She instilled in me the love I have for my country.
Now there was a “Wise Latina”!
Your mom isn’t the only “wise latina” in the family.
Thank you for teaching your children our shared American Dream (my grandparents from Italy, had to travel to Canada to be “on ice” to get their turn to come here legally. They’d already accepted enough Italians, so they had to come in as Canadians! LOL Now, if I could only follow the hockey puck on the TV screen....)
Your mom sounds like my grandfather. He had a flag in a vase in the living room, atop the TV set. When the baseball game came on, Saturday afternoon, he would get up and put his hand on his heart and try to sing (mangled) the anthem. He only annoyed me when he got excited over DiMaggio or Berra. We were in Cleveland and the Yanks were POND SCUM. :)
As long as families such as yours and mine are here, there’s hope. There really is!
Indeed! And a great American. Your pride is well deserved.