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Subscribe to RSSNatalie Morales is getting personal about her experiences as a mother in the pages of Latina magazine, where she’s writing a "Modern Mami" column about the challenges facing Latina moms. She talks about her inspiration for the column with Ann Curry on TODAY:
She'll also answer reader questions about being a Latina mom.
Morales was born in Taiwan and spent much of her childhood living overseas, in Panama, Brazil and Spain, as an “Air Force brat.” Her dad is Puerto Rican and her mom is Brazilian. In her first column for Latina, which will hit newsstands Jan. 11, she opens up about her own mother. Penelope Morales was “given up” at age 2 to be raised by her grandmother – Natalie’s great-grandmother – along with 13 other children in a poor household in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Natalie writes:
What my mother wanted most in life, she didn’t have: a loving mother to hug and kiss her, wipe her tears away when she was sad, encourage her when she felt insecure and make her feel like she was the most valuable treasure in life. I can’t imagine what that must have felt like as I try so hard to give that attention and love to my two boys.
It’s amazing how the choices we make as mothers echo through the generations. Clearly, Natalie looks up to her mom as a role model – even though her mom was a traditional homemaker, and Natalie works (quite hard!), she tries to cook dinner for her family every night, just like her mother did. And though she has followed her mother’s example by growing into a strong woman, she also wishes she could reach back in time and give a hug to the vulnerable young girl her mother once was:
I would love to meet the little girl with the big name and the big, sad, brown eyes to match. I would give her the hug she so clearly craved and reassure her, “Sweetie, don’t worry, you will have it all—and being an amazing mother will be the most important thing you do in life.”
Natalie's story got us thinking: Have you thanked your own mother lately?
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Leave a Comment:
Before I read this article, I did call my mother, who is 85 years young. I told her that she was my role model and that I loved her. Although, a housewife her whole life, she, none the less, represents everything that I admire in a woman and a person. Strong, loving, and a friend to all, I can only hope that I can achieve half of what she is!
I was just like Natalie's mom. I went to live with my blind grandmother when I was about 3. My grandmother loved me and cared for me as best as she could. But I needed the hugs and needed to be reassured when I was feeling insecure. It took about 37 years for me to talk to a professional to understand that. I now have a 4 year old daughter and I tell her everyday I love her and ask for hugs and let me tell you, the sun rises and sets with my girl.
I wish I had that kind of mom... but I'm doing alright. :o)
My mother was the most incredible woman I know. My father died at a very young age (46), nine months after our family arrived in this country from Cuba. My mother dedicated the rest of her life to raising my two sisters and I; she did a remarkable job, all by herself. My sisters and I are now grown women with families and our mother was and will always be our role model. Sadly, I can't pick up the phone and call her. She passed away 9 years ago, but we all had a very close relationship and constantly told her how much we loved her and that she was the most important person in our lives.
My Mom was the most amazing, loving, caring, kind person I have ever known. Being an only child, I was her "doll!" She had five other babies after me but all were premature - so I was it!!! Her family was most important in her life - her wonderful husband, me and then her granddaughter. I used to tell my daughter if she loved Nana as much as she loved me that it was ok - because Nana was the BEST. She was funny, we called her the "original Lucy" - she was always there, either cooking or cleaning or loving. She had ten brothers and four sisters and they came from a wonderful loving family. How lucky was I. She passed away over a year ago and I've never missed anyone as much as I miss her and her wonderful outlook on life - "everything will be just fine!" Love you, Mom xoxoxo
I don't have a good relationship with my mother. I'm not a terrible person, she's just hypercritical of everything I do and made it very clear that she prefers my younger sister to me. I guess a mother is nice for some people, but I find I do much better in life without mine.
Help,
Trying to find Natalies' segment from the today show on reasons for hair loss. Is the content or video posted anywhere