The Cat Dish
  • Musings
  • Food
  • #CatTravels
  • #BabyFox
  • #40trails
  • Videos
  • About Me
  • Contact

Sometimes being a mom is the easy part

By Catherine Toth Fox • May 12, 2013 • Musings

racie

I’m the first person who’d admit being a mom is hard work.

I see my girlfriends juggle careers and school and marriages — and then raise a bunch of kids. I honestly don’t know how they do it. I have a hard enough time managing two part-time jobs and two dogs.

But being a mom is one of the easier tasks my dear friend, Racie Botelho (above), has to deal with every day.

I’ve known her since I was a kid. Our grandmas were friends and we both attended the same summer fun at First Chinese Church of Christ in Makiki near McKinley High School. I literally spent most of my childhood and teen years with her and her cousin, Kathleen Hood. Some of my fondest memories growing up include them.

But Racie’s had a tough go at life.

She had difficulties getting pregnant. And when she finally did — after years of trying and two rounds of in vitro — she suffered a debilitating stroke two weeks after their twins were born. She spent the next few months in the hospital and in rehab, and she’s never fully recovered.

And to add insult to injury, her husband — the one with the full-time job with benefits — was diagnosed with the rare neuroendocrine carcinoma cancer and died in February, leaving her to raise her twin boys on her own.

I’ve seen her going through the most difficult life situations and never once heard her complain. She gets up every day and gets it done. She works, she takes care of her boys, she manages.

Sometimes when I feel defeated about something going on in my life — like a stressful week of deadlines or a series of car problems — I think about Racie and how she can’t do a lot of the things I can. And she’s lost her husband. And she has to worry about money. And she has two kids to raise.

My life looks very uncomplicated.

So that’s why I wrote that story in today’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser for Mother’s Day. (You can’t access the entire story online unless you pay.) I felt she deserved the recognition. And her boys, only 5, can one day read about their amazing mom and dad.

If you get a chance, read it. You will be inspired, too.

***

A big shout-out to all the mothers out there, whether you have human kids or furry ones like me! Thanks for all you do!

HawaiiHonolulu Star-AdvertiserMother's DayRacie Botelho
Tweet
6
I'm having Vegas withdrawals
Weekend Dish: Baked crescent roll taco ring

About the Author

Catherine Toth Fox

You Might Also Like

  • Anyone Else Feeling Like You’re Failing at This?

  • It’s Hard To Say Goodbye—So I Won’t

  • Was 2020 Really That Bad?

  • Here’s What Happened To My Dog Indy

6 Comments

  • Reply Annoddah Dave May 12, 2013 at 2:16 pm

    CAT: That is why it is important to be nice to your Mom. I always tell boys that the first woman they fell in love with is their Mom…so make sure the girl you are with meets her standard!

  • Reply David Jackson May 12, 2013 at 2:25 pm

    Some people have strength that goes beyond extraordinary, your friend seems firmly in that class. You are lucky to have her as a friend. And she is lucky to have you as a friend to tell her story.

  • Reply visitor May 12, 2013 at 8:08 pm

    Awesome article Cat! Very well written. Racie is indeed fortunate to have a friend like you.

  • Reply M May 13, 2013 at 6:26 am

    Hello Cat,
    Great acticle on Racie!

  • Reply bumper May 13, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    What an inspirational lady. Best wishes to her and her boys.

  • Reply 808pooh May 22, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    that was very great article you wrote on your friend…I am sure you are very thankful for having a friend like Racie that can handle so much on her plate and still carry on each and every day…and I am sure shes just as thankful for having you as a friend that spends time with her and the boys each week no matter how crazy your schedule can be! great friendship.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

Latest Posts

  • Anyone Else Feeling Like You’re Failing at This?

    March 8, 2022
  • It’s Hard To Say Goodbye—So I Won’t

    January 29, 2021
  • Was 2020 Really That Bad?

    December 31, 2020
  • Here’s What Happened To My Dog Indy

    December 10, 2020
  • I Did Noom For a Month and Here’s What Happened

    October 7, 2020

Made with in Seattle

© 2013 Solo Pine Designs, Inc. All rights reserved.