BUKKI KARIBI WHYTE

Dear Mom, As Mother’s Day approaches, I think about the woman you are and the mother you are, and I am filled with the deepest sense of gratitude for all the sacrifices, love and commitment you showed my brother and I. Growing up, you were my super hero! A woman I looked up to! From your funky hair styles to your clothes, to your friends, to the milestones you achieved; from watching you in the news, or you coming home to announce a new project (USA 94 to Isaac Hayes in Lagos to Nigeria Airways Marketing Programs) or from reading about you in the newspaper. I just wanted to be like you! Today I can say “Momma I made it”. Being a single mom and taking care of my brother and I, I wonder how you did it. We never missed holidays, we had everything we wanted, we had the best of education and you instilled in us the value of hard work and independence. I have never met anyone as hard working as you. So, I understand when you call me from time to time to tell me to ‘slow down’ because I know you see yourself in me. Ha ha! I am my mother’s daughter, what did you expect? I want to thank you for so much. I thank you for your love and kindness, I thank you for putting up with me as a rebellious teen (How on earth did you deal with that? I am sorry!), I thank you for always being there for us and I thank you for filling in for my dad when he couldn’t be there. I thank you for all the adventures and experiences. Oh man! We had adventures! Everything with you was always excitement and adventure! My brother and I had such an amazing childhood! I thank you for exposing me to your work, I have mastered the art of Communications just like you! To watch and learn a craft from a young age is so amazing! Thank you. I thank you for allowing me to make my own decisions and being there for me every time I made mistakes. I thank you for sound education and the values and morals you instilled in us. When I am in trouble you are the first person that comes to mind because I know you will ride for me. When I need advice, I run to you first because I know you will not stir me wrong. Thank you! I feel spoiled knowing that

I have you and that I will always have you. As I have become a mother, I use a lot of your parenting skills. The reward system, the emphasis on being a good citizen, and the importance of education. I pray I am half the mother you were to me. I think I am doing a good job so far and with HIS grace, I will be a great mom too. I thank you for the love you show my children, they love their “Nana” so much and I thank you for still being there for me to this very day. Thanks mom! Seriously. It couldn’t have been easy. I am just so happy that you are proud of Femi and I. All your hard labour did not go to waste. We are the product of your love and sacrifices. I love you mom!