Mom's patience, time help daughters thrive
I GREATLY appreciate my mom and the relationship we have. The relationship between my mom and me is more than just a mother-daughter relationship; it is a relationship between friends. We can confide in each other, trust each other with our personal problems and give each other advice. Although we do not always see eye to eye, I think our relationship is stronger than that of other mothers and daughters.
My mom is an incredible individual. She is constantly telling my sisters and me that she loves us. There is no doubt in my mind that she loves us as much as a mother could love her children. She is such a friendly person and is never quick to judge someone. I often encounter people who know my mom and tell me what a wonderful person she is. With four daughters, it is a wonder how my mom is able to have so much patience. She usually handles every situation calmly and rationally.
My mom's patience was greatly displayed a couple of months ago when I got into a car accident. My mom was with me at the time and, surprisingly, she did not yell at me uncontrollably. Sure, she was disappointed and upset, but she chose to comfort me and handle the situation calmly. I was so grateful to her for not yelling at me and causing me to feel more agitated than I already was. Her calmness helped me to be less tense about the situation.
My mom is constantly amazing me. This year she stopped working as a preschool teacher at a private school and decided to home school my three younger sisters, who are 11, 8 and 2 years old. This job is a challenging one, especially since she has to deal with the constant bickering between my two middle sisters. She often reminds my sisters to love each other and treat each other with kindness.
My mom wants us to always do what is right. Much of what she teaches us is based on the Bible. She often quotes Scriptures to remind us how we should behave. I even know songs that accompany some of the verses in the Bible. My mom does not just tell us what is right; she is a good example of how we should behave.
My mom does practically everything without arguing and complaining. I especially appreciate the many times she has and will have to drive me to school-related events. For instance, since I am involved with the class council, National Honor Society and Leo Club, I have to participate in many service projects. She has had to wake up early to take me to service projects all over the island, and she has had to stay up late to pick me up. She also has driven my friends to service projects and dropped them off at their homes. I know that she has had to adjust her schedule to accommodate my schedule, and she has sacrificed her personal time to make sure that I go to as many projects as possible.
My mom is a great example of how all mothers should be -- loving, compassionate, trustworthy, patient and generous. Words cannot express how remarkable my mom is and how much I appreciate everything she does. I honestly do not know what I would do without my mom. Although I might not show it all the time, I love my mom tremendously. She is not only my mom; she is my confidant.
Christi-Ann Chinen is in the 11th grade at Moanalua High School