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alejandro e. sanchez Being Together76Alejandro E. SanchezbTheSpeakereing a mom is not easy, especially when you are the mother of 15 children.I have always admired my grandmother. She has been my role model sincemy childhood; she always had a good sense of humor and a positive attitude.Here are some anecdotes about Carmelita Fuentez Tapia.Living in a country like México and not having someone like a parentto support you can be difficult. Carmelita Fuentez got married at the age of 12,which is the age at which you’re supposed to be playing with dolls. She was veryimpressed with my grandfather, Ernesto.When my parents decided to travel to New York to find work, they leftmy older brother and me in the care of my abuelitos, or grandparents, Carmelitaand Ernesto. It’s incredible that I still remember being in their care. They gave usso much love. I remember my grandmother taking my older brother, Juanito, andme to my other grandparents, from my father’s side, to visit on the weekends. Ilove them too, especially my grandfather, Emilio. I got my middle name fromhim. My grandmother used to pick us up on Mondays. When we got home, I usedto tell her to take me back to my grandfather’s house. She would make fun of mebecause I would say to myself that I missed my Abuelito Emilio, but she knewthat I loved her, as well.My parents spent two and a half years in New York, and when theyreturned to México, they brought us a lot of toys. I was five and a half years old,and my grandmother, with a sad face, told me that the woman with the toys wasmy mother. In great disbelief, I said, “No, this is not my mom; you are my mom.”I thought my mother was just a lady.My grandmother loved all of her grandchildren. I have over 40 cousins,and a few of us were luckyenough to live in her housefor a few years. My unclesused to leave their childrenI said, ‘No, this is not my mom;YOU are my mom.’ I thoughtmy mom was just a lady.