YWCA Greater Austin Staffers Honor Moms In Tributes

AUSTIN, TX -- A mother’s role in the upbringing of her children is a transformative one, often yielding a role model whose influence and inspiration fails to diminish into adulthood.

There are childhood heroes in our youth who we sometimes reassess as we become more enlightened adults. But the role of an exemplary mother is like a North Star -- her guidance a constancy as we navigate through our lives long after childhood has past.

Musing on such matters with Mothers Day upon us took one to the YWCA Greater Austin to ask two of its key officials the role their own mothers played in their development. The two women offering their testimonials about their moms are of different generations and backgrounds, one blessed to have her mother still with her and the other missing the physical presence of her maternal mentor.

And yet, both share an abiding love for the women who influenced them so profoundly.

In their own words, training coordinator Barbara Cossie and Executive Director Angela-Jo Touza-Medina described the instrumental role their mothers played -- and continue to play -- in their lives.

Barbara Cossie:

My mom was the bravest, strongest woman I ever met. Of course, I didn’t realize that when I was growing up. I only knew she worked an eight-hour day in a factory sewing fabric pieces for office chairs on a large sewing machine. She would sometimes come home with her fingers wrapped with Band-Aids. I would ask, what happened. Her cool-as-a-cucumber response; “Oh, I just got my finger caught in the sewing machine. It’ll be okay.” She retired from her factory job after 35 years.”

In 1956 after divorcing my father, Mom bought a house. She was a single woman with two kids,, and she bought a house! When she went looking for a place, she took my brother and me with her. That was one thing about my mom. We were never too far from her side.

As she lay dying in 2006, I held her thin, soft hand and whispered in her ear, “Thank you, Mommy, for giving us a happy childhood.” She must have heard me because with whatever strength she had, she gave my hand the very slightest squeeze.

I miss my mom. I miss her squeaky voice saying, “Hi, Honey!” whenever I called. I miss her hugs, I miss her. Happy Mother’s Day Mom. You are always in my heart.

Angela-Jo Touza-Medina

My mother was the single mother of two spirited girls. She is the stuff of which legends are made. Always unassuming, she is the gentle current that helps those who know her ease into the vastness and strength of who they really are. A lifelong educator her openness, curiosity and desire to find common ground she has helped not only her own, but countless other children as well, navigate rainbows of people, cultures, abilities and languages with reverence and awe. Words fail to capture exactly how much her strength, resilience, love and quest for justice and equity have shaped me. It is because of her that I do and I am. Period. I celebrate you, Mami, today and forever. TQM.

TQM is “Te quiero mucho” is an acronym for “I love you very much” in Spanish. Today, the sentiment is being expressed -- as it should be each day -- in many languages and idioms, but universally shared in a way that transcends spoken language into something visceral, heart-felt.

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms today!