Many years ago in 1992, I left my country the Dominican Republic. My whole family stayed there, separating my life from my greatest loves. I know its many years ago, but I always remember my beautiful mother when she made her own clothes. My thoughts fly to my mother’s home and I remember the last day when I saw her wearing this simple white dress. That was December 11th of 1991. I never forgot this day because it was my birthday party. This dress is really important in my life because it reminds me of beautiful, humble work. Those qualities helped me with many things in the U.S. The methods of my mother’s work taught me how to work hard. She also taught me how to make some extra money at home. Both methods helped me to become a business owner. The memory of my mother helps me open many doors every day in this country. Now I conserved this dress in my home because when my mother died, my older sister brought it to me from my parents’ home in the Dominican Republic. My mother’s dress is my most important and greatest treasure in my life.

– Estela Baez

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant