Many of you who know me may know my story, but
some may not know what shaped me into the person I am today.
Rolling back several years, I grew up in
Cloverdale with my two sisters, Mom and Dad. My parents ran a trucking company
and had the ability to provide a very comfortable life for me and my sisters
and we essentially never had to go without anything.
Moving ahead a bit, my Dad cheated on my Mom and
effectively ended their relationship overnight. Was their relationship perfect?
No...Should they have tried to work things out? When I was a kid, I would have
said yes, but as an adult I am happy they went their separate ways. My
parent’s divorce ended up being the most valuable life experience I could ever
have and it essentially molding me into the man I am today.
When my Dad left, my Mom was a full time stay-at-home Mom. Her sole job was to take care of her children which was no small task with 3 active kids. This however left her untrained in the workplace to acquire a job that would be able to
support us moving forward.
So just as quick as my parent’s marriage crumbled, so did my sense of reality of what I thought my life would be. I went very
quickly from the kid that had “it all” and never questioned a meal to eat, to
living in a one-bedroom suite with my mom, my sister Jennifer and with me
sleeping on a mattress on the ground. It was a reality that I did not understand but now
appreciate.
My Dad chose not to pay a dime in child support
and essentially left my Mom to fend for herself and his children while he
enjoyed his new life. I remember very soon after my Dad left, standing in line at the foodbank with my Mom and not really realizing what was going on. Wait,
this is not Safeway… What?? Where do we pay?? With my Dad not paying any sort of
support, my Mom had to rely on this to ensure we had food on the table.
Soon after my Dad left my Mom decided to make some changes and went back to school (College). She wanted to get educated to get a better job so she would no longer have to rely on things like the food bank, etc.
Unfortunately, it got worse before it got better. I would hear my Mom crying at night so stressed about paying bills and being
able to provide for us. She may not even remember as much, but the heartache
and pain is still so real for me as she’s always been my pillar of strength.
After seeing the amount of stress my Mom was
going through trying to make ends meet while also trying to go to school became
too much for me to sit back and do nothing.
At the age of 10 I pitched the idea to my Mom to
let me get a paper route. I wanted to try and take off some of the pressure
from my Mom and help contribute as the “Man of the House”. My Mom was reluctant
but I pushed forward and did it anyways. Not only did I take one route but I
took on two separate routes and delivered for two different papers. I was earning over 300 per
month at the age of 10!
I funneled much of my money to my mom to help
provide for her, my younger sister and I. Every time I handed any money over to
my mom she looked at me with teary sad eyes and said she would pay me back
every single penny, which in fact she later did. I wrapped my arms around her at the tender age of ten and
said not to worry everything will be ok.
This continued for a couple years until things became more stable with work for my Mom. I continued the paper routes till I was 13 and on the eve of my
14th
birthday I got a job in a restaurant as a busboy. The managers were very
reluctant to hire someone so young but found my drive intriguing and took a
chance...That drive pushed me through the ranks and I ended up becoming the
youngest Assistant Manager at 18 in the history of the large chain I worked for
(Moxies). My drive did not stop there, I successfully pushed my way through
multiple promotions through the various company's I have worked for and now
have a final resting spot as a Business Development Manager in Chilliwack.
I look back and many could have chosen the wrong
road with the cards I was dealt. I could have gone down a very dark path but I
choose not too, I choose to support the one that always did her best to support
me and my sisters and soon later younger brother..
With all good stories there is always a happy
ending. My Mom has started an incredibly successful Driving School (The Art of Driving School) with Brett
and I and she is now able to do the things she wants. She has
the ability to no longer worry about money, owns a couple properties and is
able to travel and road trip abroad.
With my Moms successes over the years she’s been able to support her
kids and assist us all in reaching certain milestones in our lives we would not
have been able to do without her.
Her hardwork, drive and dedication to her children
is what I aspire to be with my own children. My Mom has always taught me to be
a dreamer. She would tell me to close my eyes and visualize what I want my life
to be. Her optimistic approach empowered me to do just that… Close my eyes….
Envision a family, my own children, a beautiful home, supportive friends
and family and the means to be able to live my life the way I want to.
Many
years later, I open my eyes and look around… I have an incredible Husband who
loves and supports me, Amazing friends, A beautiful home, a great job that
allows me to provide a comfortable lifestyle and two beautiful children on the
way…Oh and we cant forget our amazing, loving, nurturing puppy Nikayla. This is
exactly what I envisioned in my darkest days with my Mom, and staying true, positive and following my dreams has allowed me to create this incredible life we now share together.
So in closing, thank you Mom for teaching me to
Dream BIG and showing me nothing is out of reach if you want it bad enough.
I will instil these same values with our children and your forward thinking
and positive approach will forever change the future generations of our family.
Love you..
