You learn the value of independence. Both emotional and financial. You learn that if he can’t handle you at your fodonga, he definitely doesn’t deserve you at your novela. You have been taught to be strong-willed, opinionated and fiercely independent maaaaybe with a dash of sass and/or attitude. But it makes you, you. You learn you create your own happiness.

You learn to love yourself. She taught you how to let go and walk away from things that were not meant to be. She’s shown you by example how to hold your head high and keep going even if it feels like the whole world is against you. You learn failures, bad grades, and heartaches do not define you as a person and she taught you how to get back up from the rejections and setbacks with grace… and that is what truly defines you.

You learn how to be a chingona. Being a chingona means to be a boss or your own boss. You learn to value the meaning of independence and the struggle she endured to bless you with that privilege. You know that you don’t need anyone else to dictate your successes for you. You learn to walk with your head, heels, and hair up high.

You learn how to think not what to think. You didn’t just memorize what you read about, instead she taught you to question it and form your own opinions. You learn to gather information from as many sources as you can and evaluate your own conclusion. She taught you to always be willing to learn and change your mind, you also learn it’s okay to be wrong sometimes and even to fail. It’s how you learn.

You learn to never take anything for granted. You learn that your mother is strong because of all the sacrifices and adversities she has gone through, and you learn to never take anything with a grain of salt. You learn to work hard for what you want but still always remember to count your blessings including that you can’t thank God enough every day for blessing you with a fighter, baker, driver, fashion adviser, personal cheerleader, does-it-all superhero, best friend for a mother.