Editor’s Note: For Mother’s Day, Kwest On Media is sharing a message of thanks from Ronvel Sharper, a teenager from Richmond, California, to his mother. In it, Ronvel shares some memories from his precocious youth and acknowledges the work his mother did to protect him from the dangers of young life in Richmond.
It’s been nearly nineteen years since you delivered me into this world.
From the time when you first started watching over me, guiding me, you have helped me grow from the naïve — yet terribly blunt — kid who randomly asked adults when they were going to die, to the young man that I am today.
Do you remember when Granny and I first met? You said something like “Your grandmother is even older than me,” so I thought that meant she knew everything. So, as soon as you dropped me off at her house, I started bugging her with silly questions: “Why do you listen to bad music?” “Why are you nicer than mom?” “Why is your chest so saggy?” When her friend came over, I asked her the same questions until Granny exploded. I got popped. After that whoopin’ I didn’t want to ask anyone anything for a couple days.
Like most parents and kids, we’ve had our arguments. There were even days when I caused you enough trouble that you probably felt like strangling me where I stood. Yet, you didn’t.
When I was in 7th grade, I started to notice how hard you worked, how bad some of your days were. You wouldn’t even have the strength to get up after showering. You’d lay on your bed, tired, not able to handle the rest of your day.
One time when you came home after a long day at work, when people were giving you sass, I thought talking to you about it would make it better. Somehow, it did. Your bright, big smile made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I realized then that just by giving people the time, even just chatting with them, can make them feel better, especially when they are having a bad day.
Growing up, Mother’s Day was just another day for me to play videogames. You didn’t think it was special, either. To you, Mother’s Day might be “just be another day,” but now that I’m older, I realize Mother’s Day is the day I get to show you just how good a mom you have always been.
Your parenting has helped me meet so many new people and experience so many things, although at the same time, you wouldn’t let me do some typical teen things, like cruising around in a party bus, getting high and eating tons of junk food with my friends. At the time, I thought it was lame of you. But now I realize you were looking out for me, wanting the best for me.
You didn’t want the dangers of life to take me under. You didn’t want me to think the streets were all I had.
I love your strength. When you were under pressure and there was constant yelling in the house, you always found a way to stay calm and collected.
Among all my inspirations, I will say that no one and nothing can top you. You are the sun in my sky, the light at the end of my tunnel. No one can take the place you have in my heart.
When the time comes and you leave this Earth, I won’t know what to do with myself. You are the strongest person I know. Even when Dad was hurt and couldn’t work for a while, you took charge, paid the bills, and even sacrificed your own happiness to buy your children what they wanted. You spoiled us when you could have pampered yourself. You are the kindest and, frankly, the best mother I could ever wish for.
I love and cherish you, Mom.
Your loving son, Ronvel.
