What is the most rewarding part of being a mom?

Watching my three kind, adult children say, "Thank you, Mama," is my greatest win. Their gratitude acknowledges every sacrifice: flipping burgers, liquor store shifts, stacking clothes at the mall, door-to-door selling and many more. Knowing they truly see the struggles I faced alone makes every lost promotion and "war" against the odds worth it. Seeing the wonderful people they’ve become is the only victory I ever needed, and their gratitude is the ultimate paycheck for a lifetime of hard work.

What is the biggest lesson motherhood has taught you?

I realized I was always enough. I didn’t just survived being a mom, I excelled. Despite the two deadbeat dads, missing college degree and lost opportunities, my love was more powerful than any obstacle. I learned that "impossible" is just a word for people who haven't had to fight for their kids. From back-to-back night and day shifts and many side hustles, I found a resilience that turned my struggle into their foundation. Their gratitude is the only degree I ever needed to prove I won the war.

What would you do with $20,000?

I’ll dedicate 20-30% of the winning towards supporting a charity or loved ones in need and another 20-30% in replenishing retirement/investment savings. The remainder will be for spending meaningful time with my kids, hoping to create memories we missed (because I was always working). And if anything is left, I’ll finally visit the hair salon (I haven’t had a professional haircut in over 2 decades)