Role Models
My mom is my biggest hero and my biggest role model. She has overcome so much disparity in her life and come out a strong, loving, supportive, and confident woman. She taught my sister and I the difference between right and wrong, how to respect others, how to state our opinion without resorting to name calling and childish behavior. She taught us to treat others with respect and dignity, even if we don’t agree with them; or even like them. She taught us how to stand up for ourselves and speak our minds, but in a manner that allows us to walk away with our head held high. She taught us that it is not possible to get along with all of the people, all of the time, but it is possible to conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity to all of the people, all of the time. And I am the first to admit that I am not perfect and I don’t always behave in a way that would make my mom proud. I have my issues, and I have my bad qualities, but I try as hard as I can to live by the values that she instilled in us. My mom also taught us the value of eating correctly and the importance of making exercise an integral part of our lives. When I was little (maybe four) my mom took a picture of me proudly displaying my new bathing suit. A few minutes later I came running out of my bedroom with clothes stuffed down my bathing suit and innocently proclaimed that I now looked just like her. Of course I didn’t realize how hurtful my actions could be to my mom, and she took a picture of me like that. Here they are:
And to this day, she has those photos framed together because according to her, that was the moment that she realized she had the power to make sure we grew up eating healthy and exercising so that we didn’t have to go through the things that she did. I used to hate those photos, because when I would look at them I could only see that I must have really hurt my mom’s feelings. It took me a long time to realize that my mom really is proud of those photos (and she tells us so whenever we go home to visit).
My mom spent years eating healthy and trying to lose weight. And failing time after time and year after year. She had diabetes, sleep apnea, breathing problems, etc. and nothing she did seemed to help her lose weight. A few years ago she made the difficult decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery. And it changed her life. She was finally able to lose weight and she had already been eating healthy and getting physical activity so the transition was very easy for her. Nowadays she is in better condition than my sister and I! And she runs us into the ground! 
And we all love every single minute of it. My mom is truly my biggest hero and the best role model I could have ever dreamed of. I love you mom!!
Here are my mom’s before (she is standing with my little sister) and after photo’s (doesn’t she look fabulous!):
February 26, 2009 at 11:19 am
right on!
February 26, 2009 at 11:23 am
That’s incredible. For sure a real role model.
February 26, 2009 at 11:24 am
Awwww great story with a great ending. HOORAY for Mom! Yes she does look fabulous.
February 26, 2009 at 11:24 am
Great story! And weren’t you just a little doll LOL
February 26, 2009 at 11:25 am
Great entry Kiara. It is so refreshing hearing that you chose your mom as your role model and not some athlete or movie star. You have an amazing "athletic" body and, based on your blogs, intelligent to go with it.
Stay positive and motivational and remember, "Never argue with an idiot. People may not be able to tell the difference."
Good luck to you!!
February 26, 2009 at 11:26 am
Great story, I really enjoyed it.
February 26, 2009 at 11:27 am
being a hero to your kids is the greatest reward
February 26, 2009 at 11:27 am
Your mom is HOT! Good for her for overcoming her weight problem.
February 26, 2009 at 11:33 am
She looks awesome! What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing
February 26, 2009 at 11:49 am
Amazing transformation, good for her! And good for you.
February 26, 2009 at 11:52 am
Would that all of could view our parents as our heroes. That’s the way it ought to be…..ditto with what DRMMRMN said. You are truly blessed.
And you were a CUTIE at 4 yrs old!
February 26, 2009 at 11:54 am
Oh, and PS: I don’t mean to say you’re not now. Very pretty young lady.
(See….marriage does teach us guys to finally think before we speak…….)
February 26, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Dang; I gotta get me one of them "marriage" thingies then…
February 26, 2009 at 12:08 pm
Very well done… I really enjoyed reading this one. Isn’t it great when we can in our hearts say that our parents are our true role models?.. I think that is rare.
February 26, 2009 at 4:20 pm
out of the mouths of babes comes the truth. your actions were innocent, and were a wake-up call for your mom, who took your innocent behavior to heart, and made a life change. that’s a cute photo, who wouldn’t take you seriously with that cute smile!-manny
February 26, 2009 at 4:24 pm
awww…what a nice blog…what a sweet daughter
February 26, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Beautiful post about someone obviously special to you. It is commendable that you think so highly of your mother. She has accomplished a lot and she is very beautiful, like her daughter. You look fabulous!
February 27, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I agree with all the other posters — both you and your mom look fabulous! Seems like you have been able to inspire each other (though you did it inadvertently at a young age).. great blog!
February 27, 2009 at 1:59 pm
I love this inspirational story! Your mom overcame a lot and looks fabulous! And it’s always nice to hear as a parent that someday my kids might just call me a role model too!
March 1, 2009 at 9:08 am
Great story.
March 2, 2009 at 10:55 am
Great post. Very well said.
March 2, 2009 at 1:23 pm
can i date your mom wow. very stunning. lol. great post.
April 7, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Fantastic story. Thank you for sharing it.