This one is for you

This one is for you:

For you grandma, who like many black grandmothers stepped in and raised me where my mother and father could not. You dressed me everyday for school and church and instilled in me the values of what it meant to take care of oneself. I never got to tell you how the kids at school and around the neighborhood, would make fun of me because I wore khakis with my shirt tucked in every single day. I hated it, but now I understand. If you were to see me today, you'd be proud of what I have achieved and the man I have become. Before you left, you told me to "do good in school" and I'd like to think that if you were here today you'd be so proud to know that I made it through high school. I can't imagine your reaction to know that I have also made it into college, traveled and studied around the world, and am preparing to graduate college. I'll be the first, and I only wish you were here to see one of my educational achievements. Thank you for being my first mom. 

This is also for you two; Lisa and Danette, two of my older sisters. Thank you for raising me when our mother could not, when grandma, was at work, and when I needed a parent the most. Although I'm the baby I never really knew what it was like to have a big sister, as we never had the luxury of being just siblings because someone always had to be the parent. I wouldn't change a thing. Because of you I am still here, still pushing and striving to be the best example for all of my nieces and nephews. I love you.

This one is also for you, Mrs. Gherdes. You saw a void in my life, and knew during my early stages of development that I needed nothing but love. You introduced me to science and instilled in me a love for learning. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and your family. I never felt out of place. I'd like to believe that you knew at the time, that being anywhere but home was better for me then. Thank you for enrolling me in the after school program in elementary school, it was the best thing that could have happened to me then. Thank you for be the amazing educator and mom that you are. I know you are so very proud of me and I'm happy to have experienced you and your love.

This is also for you, grandma Rosey, for raising me alongside my other siblings and my nieces and nephews. You took care of all of us when our mothers could not. You bathed me, and treated me like I was your own. And like my biological grandmother you pushed me to do the best I could in school. You loved me and always expressed it. You spoiled me and taught me the value of community and what it meant to share and give more than you receive. You are a great example of that and are the best grandma anyone could have. 

This one is also for you, Aunt Dorris, mom, who raised me through primary school when when I had no where to go. When grandma had died you showed me the true essence of family, and what it meant to love God. You pushed me into the direction of my destiny, and always made sure I was putting my best foot forward in school. You made sure I had everything I needed, and as a young boy bought me a lot of my "firsts." You taught me discipline and responsibility and showed me the value of working hard first (chores) to enjoy leisure later (allowance and new toys lol). I am forever grateful for you.

This is also for you, miss, aunt, grandma-Imogene. My caretaker, my guardian, my Madea. Ubuntu; I am because of you. I look back over my childhood and forgive and thank you. I am grateful for the upbringing you provided me. For the lessons you taught me through strict discipline. Thank you for teaching me manners and how to "act in front of white people." Thank you bringing me to church every single day, even when I didn't want to go. Thank you for sending me to bible study, bible summer camp, bible class, choir rehearsal, and usher board meetings. Thank you for getting me involved with God. Thank you for teaching me morals and values. I'll always remember "when you lie you cheat, and when you cheat you steal." Thank you for whooping my hind parts relentlessly. Because of you I am so loving and caring and harbor no hatred in my heart for I have learned what it means to forgive. You did all of this for my benefit. You raised me as any southern black woman from the 40s-50s would: to be a gentleman. I am eternally in your debt and strive to continue to make you proud.

This one is also for you, aunt Sherry. Because of you I have a thirst for traveling the world. You are the reason why I'll never stop going. You exposed me to life outside of the neighborhood, the city, and the state. My first plane ride was with you. My first for a number of things were with you, and I cannot express how much I love and miss you. I miss staying at your house. The summers were always the best because I got to be with you the most. I always knew that when I was with you I would be taken care of. I never had to want for anything because you provided for me like you would your own. You raised me to be a leader and not a follower. You  raised me to hold my head high above adversity and to always trust God. Thank you for that.

This one is also for you, Mrs. Louck. Thank you for welcoming me into your home and treating me like your own. I'll never forget the efforts you made to get me over to your house for a weekend or even a week knowing that being with you and your family was better than being at home at the time. Thank you for giving me my own room in your house. You really made me feel included, and I can only imagine what your neighbors were saying back in the 90s when you kept bringing a little black kid to your home. Your house was my first home out of the projects and I miss the moments we shared as a family; eating dinner, raking leaves in fall, playing on the trampoline Mr. Louck and the girls, and working the family business on Saturdays and Sundays. Thank you for allowing me to experience you and your family.You introduced me to Entreprenuership and taught me how to be a big brother to my sister, your daughter Nancy. I love you, and I will always be a Louck at heart. You are such an amazing mom.

This one is also for you, Ms. Grate. Thank you for being one of the best educators throughout my educational career. Thank you for also being one the phenomenal women in my life. I'll never forget the day you told me you'd adopt me if my situation [back then] took a turn for the worse. You were my educator, my counselor, my friend, my mom. You introduced me to so much and cared for me like I was your own. I like to believe God placed you in my life. I think it was evident around the time that I transitioned to high school, you were also in transition. And not by luck you moved to the high school I would attend the following year. We continued our relationship through some of the most troubling years of my life. You were there for me when I met my dad, and my life changed forever. Thank you for being the amazing woman that you are, and thank you for giving me your grandfathers bible, it has been served me well over the years. I'm happy to call you Ms. Grate, mom. 

This one is for you also, Rita, Mrs. Jones, mom, the woman God chose for my father. You entered my life and taught me something special, you taught me how to be a better man. You supported my efforts my visions, my dreams as if I were your own. I thank you for that. I thank you more for being my mom and the mother of my amazing twin sisters. Thank you for holding the house down. Thank you for balancing the family and keep us all in synch. A man can hold the world on his shoulders but you are the true definition of a woman who carries her family on her back. You love us all and we love you. Thank you for being there during my darkest hours, my scariest moments, you are an incredible friend, and a loving mother. 

This one is for you also, Ms. G, Ms. Gugerli, Gail, Mrs. Waters. I don't know where to begin. Thank you. Thank you for being my Sandra Bullock in the movie the Blind Side. Thank you for welcoming me in your home and into your family. Thank you for being a shoulder to cry on, and counselor when needed, a friend, a mom. Thank you for pushing me and showing me that there is a life beyond high school. Thank you for believing me in and my future. I'll never forget the weekend you drove me to Princeton University for a college visit to show me the possibilities of my future. Thank you for introducing me to Morgan State University and pushing me to apply to college. I'll never forget those words "you have to go to college, you can go to college." Thank you for introducing me to business and teaching me business. I'll never forget how going into my senior year-over the summer-you changed my schedule and put me in your advanced marketing class. I remember coming back to school shocked that my entire schedule was changed; only a loving mom would do that. I'll never forget how angry you would get when I came and told you about the things I was dealing with at home. You cared for me like your own. And you have been one of my biggest supporters and I know I am always welcome in your home. It was a joy to come home and spend thanks giving last year with your family, my family. You did that for me, and I thank you. I love you so much.

This one is for you also, Frankie, Ms. Crosby, the boss. You are such a strong and inspirational woman. Thank you for accepting me into the Super Leaders program after relentless attempts. We both look back and laugh at those times because we see the benefit of the program. I am a living example of it. Thank you for teaching me that I can be anything that I want to be, and that if I did what I was suppose to do; in school and in life, that money wouldn't be a hinderance. Thank you for investing in me and in my future. Thank you for providing me everything I needed to be "somebody," and thank you for reminding me that I am "somebody." Thank you for opening your home and your family to me, like many others who have come through the program you have treated us like your own. We'll always be yours, and you ours. SuperLeaders for life! 

This one is for you also, aunt rosey, ma, mom, mother, Mrs. Taylor, woman; you know I love you. I look back over the years and I can't help but to reflect on how blessed I am to call you mine. You have raised me to be an exceptional young man, and it almost doesn't seem like we met just over 7 years ago when I met your brother, my father. You are the apple of my eye, and I am so proud to be your son. I love more than anything to put a smile on your face and to make you proud. You have been my friend, my encourager,  my reason to live, my joy and peace. I'll always remember the moments we've shared. Thank you for loving me with more than your heart. Thank you for going into debt if you have to to make sure I have what I need to succeed. Thank you for giving me the best life you can. Thank to for being my biggest fan. Thank you for giving me the most powerful love in the world. You are indeed a phenomenal woman. You are my mom.

This one is really for you, Edwina Marie Stewart. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Thank you for supporting my dreams and aspirations the best way you knew how. Thank you for never giving up on being my mother. Happy Mother's Day! 

To all of my moms, and to my mother, to the women around the world who wear the hat of being a mom this is for you: Happy Mother's Day! 

Letter's To My Mothers Project 

(Me and my bio mom, Edwina Marie 2013)