Priya & Her Mom: Love Across Continents

My mother, Sunita Patel, taught me that home isn't a place – it's the people you love and the traditions you carry with you.

When we moved from Mumbai to New York when I was twelve, I was angry. I didn't want to leave my friends, my school, my life. But Mom understood. She packed not just our belongings, but our culture, our recipes, our stories.

Every morning, she would wake up early to make fresh rotis for our lunch. While other kids had sandwiches, I had parathas filled with love and the taste of home. I was embarrassed then, but now I realize she was giving me something precious – my identity.

Mom worked as a seamstress, her skilled hands creating beautiful garments for others while she wore simple saris she had brought from India. She saved every penny so I could go to college, so I could have the opportunities she never had.

The most beautiful thing about my mother is how she bridges two worlds. She taught me to be proud of where I come from while embracing where I am. She speaks Hindi with my grandmother on video calls and perfect English at parent-teacher conferences.

When I got married, she spent months hand-embroidering my lehenga, each stitch a prayer, each thread a blessing. "This is your heritage," she said, "carry it with pride."

Now, when I cook her recipes for my own children, I hear her voice guiding me: "A pinch of love makes everything taste better." And she's right – everything she touched was seasoned with love.

Mama, you gave me roots and wings. You taught me to honor the past while embracing the future. You showed me that a mother's love transcends borders, languages, and cultures.

धन्यवाद माँ। Thank you for being my anchor and my inspiration.