Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine NK Literary Cafe 2018 Mother's Day Issue | Page 29

London St. Charles
Marva is her first name, but I’ve had the pleasure
of calling her mom my entire life. There’s a warmth
that flows through me when I think of my mother.
She’s my ultimate BFF, the keeper of my secrets, the
protector of my spirit. There isn’t anything that I
wouldn’t do for that woman. Pride and dignity ooze
from me when I introduce my mother to anyone.
Love rolls over my tongue when I speak of her or
anything she’s done. She’s part of my inner being.
Mom is wise, funny, trustworthy, compassionate,
understanding, and unbothered. Man … she’s
so unbothered. I love it. And she’s team “me,” no
matter what—even when I’m wrong. Don’t get it
twisted; mom lets me know what she thinks and
how she feels I should’ve handled something
differently. I totally respect that.
We’re the ultimate conversationalists and both
of us have strong personalities and don’t always
agree, but we don’t argue. The mutual respect is
admirable.
I remember being told, “You’re turning into your
mother” or, “You sound like mom.”
Thanks for the compliment. I couldn’t think of a
more upstanding person to be compared to.
I thank her all the time for being the person she is
because that kind, well-rounded, loving person
shaped me into the woman I am today. The
overwhelming gratitude I have for her is stronger
than any superpower and needs no explanation. It
just is. And I know I’m blessed to have her as my
mother.
My mom is known for her quotes. The ones that
stood out the most was, “Always be a leader, never
a follower”, “ If you’re going to be a fool, then be the
ringleader on your own accord. Don’t let someone
else make a fool out of you.”
As a kid, I hated that. It sounded like blah, blah, blah.
But as an adult, with life experience and children of
my own––let me tell you, that phrase has stuck like
Spandex on the wrong side of being on all night. It
helped me see things more clearly.
I’ve learned to do what I knew was right, even when
everyone else was doing wrong. I beat to my own
drum and could care less about what someone else
thinks of me. I think I’ve mastered the art of being
unbothered. Mic drop. And I’m teaching my children
the same.
Thanks, mom.
London St. Charles is a Chicago native who has always had a passion for the pen, paper,
and books. She wrote and published her debut novel, The Husband We Share in 2017 and is
currently working on her next novel. www.londonstcharles.com
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