Piece About Lessons From My Late Mother, for AARP's The Ethel

“Our mothers were our first teachers. Their love for us is primal and unconditional. So losing them can feel untethering.

My mom was Filipina, “Lola” to millions of social media fans, popularized by my TikTok star son Chris Olsen. She would do anything for her grandson, even reciting rap lyrics on camera that she did not understand. They did many skits together, even in clown suits, and my mom would often jokingly ask him on camera if he was still gay. This, because her friend had a granddaughter who would make a good girlfriend.

…

My mother had such joie de vivre. She relished being my mother and Lola to her grandchildren, as well as to her fans. She was a mahjong master, chiding my daughter and me with comments like “I’m reading the newspaper over here!” if we took too long on our turns.

Losing my mom unmoored me. She taught me resilience, yet I am still trying to claw my way back out of this tremendous hole in my life. I still cry unexpectedly when something reminds me of her. My son encourages me to talk to her, as he does, throughout the day. I can still feel my mom’s presence, but the ache of losing her remains.

I do know that our mothers’ lessons and insights live on through us, filling us with courage and lasting wisdom.”

Read the piece here:

https://ethel.aarp.org/relationships/family/the-lessons-i-learned-from-my-late-mother/