I was calling everyday for the last 3 days before her vacation ended. Several times a day actually! You would think I was giving her the minute by minute settlement update or something. I wasn't falling apart yet, but things sure were getting loose. 2 months?!? Who goes on vacation for 2 months and leaves a woman with 2 kids under 2, a demanding 7 year old, and a real estate career for 2 WHOLE MONTHS?!? My mom, that's who.
Yep, my mom is my hero. Let me tell you a little something about her. She was a pediatrician for over 20 years before she retired. She managed to have one of the largest - if not the largest - pediatrics practices in the area in the south in the 70's, 80's, and 90's. That is no small feat for a black woman. Now I said black woman instead of African American for a reason. She was born in poverty in the 40's in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Oh, yea, you read right. She went to college, got her masters in biochemistry and then her MD. She started off in real estate by buying a little house in Silver Spring, MD that is now worth well over 600K. She sold it though, before she moved south. Once she got there, she bought a house with a fence and a pool... after that, it was on. I don't know how many transactions she has been involved in by now, but at one time, she had a huge real estate portfolio, AND ran a full time medical practice in two offices... and she was the only physician at both! The raised 2 kids, putting us through the best private schools our area had to offer, and while NEVER driving a brand new car, buying fancy jewelry, or running up credit cards. Shortly before my son was born, the stress, ripping and running, and a congenital heart defect, as well as a neurological defect that makes people pre-disposed to having strokes took it's toll, and she had a stroke.
Real Estate was her second love, children were her first. So when my son was born, she didn't even want rehab. He was her rehab and she decided, she was officially retired. Now, she isn't fully recovered from the stroke, but who ever really recovers fully from one of those, but she is still doing her thing. She said if she hadn't gone into medicine, she would have been a real estate agent. She says that she is ready to watch the kids, so that I can do what I love - so that is how we work. Being from the islands, she hates the cold, so during the worst parts of the winter here, she returns to her house in Georgia, or she goes to visit her mother in St. Vincent or family in Trinidad.
While she was gone, I managed to get one of my listings under contract, and list 2 apartment buildings, so I didn't do too badly considering, the job of watching the kids was split between myself and my husband and that was it. We work pretty well together. If I have a big appointment, he'll watch the little ones, and vice-versa. So she is back and resting some, but soon it will be back to business as usual. I called her in Trinidad when I finished my GRI designation, and she was really really proud. I have one more class and I will take my Broker's exam. When I get it, I am having a party - for her.
Love you ma! You are awesome!!!
:)
Eva
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