The story of Maria Gomez, the founder of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care, says so much about our own mothers and mother figures who inspire us and build us up; who drive us to push harder and drive us crazy (!); the colossal visionaries who come back into our thoughts in times of trial, and at quiet moments of meditation; women that we remember long after they pass away, and whose legacy we carry forward – sometimes purposefully, and sometimes unconsciously…
Although her mother died 15 years ago, Maria managed to bottle her mother’s spiritual strength and compassion for others. Reflecting on her mother and her own values, Maria has one prescription for the women: to know yourself.
In her view, if women don’t take the time to learn about themselves, they are completely immobilized.
“Because, unless we know what we stand for, and who we, are and what value, it’s very hard for us, as women, to reach out and really get to know other people, and be open-minded, and to learn from others.”
Oh Mother!
Today if you were to ask Maria to sum up her feelings about the one woman that inspired her, it would be: Oh Mother!“
I think after she passed away, I really recognized a lot about her… without being really conscious of it, how much she did inspire me,” Maria says with tears in her eyes.“
The two left Colombia when Maria was 13, settling in Washington, DC. This was an incredibly courageous move, says Maria, particularly since her mother didn’t know much English, and wasn’t highly-educated. She had no idea where she was going and what lay ahead.
In the United States, the atmosphere of the 70s was heavy with political activism: the war on drugs, protests against the Vietnam War. As a youngster Maria was drawn to politics, but her mother categorically objected.
“Her purpose was to protect me,” says Maria.She does not remember her father, who was killed for his political activism while in Colombia, leaving behind a pregnant wife. Pegged as a communist Maria’s mother decided to immigrate to the United
My Mother's Daughter
Because, unless we know what we stand for, and who we, are and what value, it’s very hard for us, as women, to reach out and really get to know other people, and be open-minded, and to learn from others.