In my life, I loved you more…

Rosita and Papa

Throughout my childhood my father always told my siblings and I, “When I die, I won’t be leaving you money, because we’re not rich. The only thing I can give you that you will have forever is an education.” My dad was right – when he passed, no lawyer came up to let us know he left millions in inheritance. However, he did keep true to his word and provided us all with the opportunity to pursue higher education.

My parents are extremely intelligent, both with a Masters in Chemistry, and my mother even has a second Masters in Education Administration. The importance of education was always stressed in my home. Even with working full-time jobs and taking classes at night (ESL when they first arrived in this country and later graduate courses), my parents always stayed up to help with homework or projects. And my parents didn’t only strive to educate us, but others as well. After they retired, they both taught ESL classes to bilingual parents in the community. We always knew that education was a big deal to our folks, but my dad was wrong in saying that education is the only thing he would leave us.

This past week was the hardest week of our lives. What got us through it was remembering all the things my dad, or as we called him, “Papá”, left us. We talked as a family about what each of us siblings had inherited from Papá. We decided my brother Carlos, the oldest, inherited Papá’s sense of humor. My dad was always cracking corny jokes and being a goofball. My sister Liz got his love of dancing. At any party they attended, my parents were always the first people on the dance floor, and they were always the last ones to leave. I got his taste in music. On the weekends, Papá and I would sit together in the living room and listen to the Beatles and other oldies music, which I still prefer to listen to over any music that’s playing on a Top-40 station. Gloria, the youngest, inherited his temper and strength. My dad had a pretty scary temper, but to this day he is the strongest person I know and it’s a strength I see in my little sister.

Papá left us so much – memories, funny stories, and words of wisdom. I’ll never forget what he said when I told him I was taking a job with the National PTA and would be moving from our hometown of Joliet, Ill., to Chicago. He said, “Mija, I gave you all wings so that you could fly.”

Papá, we will miss you so much. Thank you so much for giving your children and so many others the gift of education – a gift that is much more valuable than money. You also left a bit of you in each of your children. You will always be in our hearts.

Please join me in supporting PTA’s Million Hours of Power campaign to encourage more men to get involved and support the education of their children. Vote at Pepsi Refresh Project.

– Rosa Vivanco is Programs & Partnerships Coordinator for PTA.  Her mother, Liduvina, resides in Minooka, IL  along with her two sisters and niece, Lily. Minooka is near Rosa’s hometown of Joliet, IL  where her brother and his family live.

Comments

  1. Nina says:

    Rosita you are one of the most educated, strong person I know ! You did such an amazing job on this article! I know Papa is smiling down on you with so much pride. I feel so honored to know you and I know your family feels the same way! I’m thinking of you and praying for you and your family everyday! Love you

  2. Robben Wainer says:

    I think to the family values, my father must have wanted us to inherit. His gentle treatment of authority helped me to feel that I am not to blame. He did not pressure his children even into observing his relgion, and while the family was united, we did not necessarily celebrate any more than thanksgiving dinner. I think in respect to him, his only concern was that his family overcome the hardship of having to struggle with being placed at a disdvantage. The lessons I learned from him as a parent were of patience and pride, that one may lead to the other but one ought to be respectful of work that is accomplished, as an ethic and a stepping stone to a well balanced life.

  3. Robben Wainer says:

    Hello,
    M two daughters Chavonne and Taina, along with myself had so many reasons to lift our spirit to what could have been cause to celebrate on any occassion.
    They are both graduates of Frederick Douglas Academy on Adam Clayton Powell in Washington Heights. They know my process of choosing and picking exactly what I need for my MA in Education. The process of evaluating one school system called “Open Corridor” within the board of Education can touch on very personal issues with me. In my family we have all had to give up on our character assassinations of each other. We are at a turning point in my family that is very clean and sobering, when in our lives not every detail is as cut and dry.

    Thank You,

    Robben Wainer

Speak Your Mind

*