I have heard people often say that their mom is ‘the actual best’ but let me take a moment of your time to let you know that MY mom IS THE ACTUAL BEST.

The first time that I realized that my mom was ‘the actual best’ was when I found out how much she loves being a teacher. This was when she worked at a children’s home while I was still in Primary School. She would come home and prepare these lessons that would engage students. At the same time that she had recently had my younger brother and was continuing her studies (which she still does even today). Somewhere between all of that, she also taught Adult Basic Education in the evenings.

When I was in High School and she became an English teacher at the school where I attended. To say that she was loved by all would be an understatement. I was in a typical angsty teenager phase and always had my nose in a book so when my peers talked about how cool my mom was or how lucky I was I would just scoff and say, “okay then.”

Hulisani and Mom, courtesy of Hulisani Khorombi

High school ended and I went to Varsity. Then came the big change. She moved on from teaching High School learners and started teaching Primary School kids. This is where my relationship with my mom really took off. A bit of background is that I am a Sunday School teacher. I have been since I was 17. I have a knack for teaching the younger age group and it is something that gives me great joy. My mom saw this so we spent a week going over her lesson plans and making them more youthful. She gave me free reign to decorate her classroom and to ensure that there were helpful hints for her kids to remember important things.

Obviously, she became the most loved teacher once again. Not just because she makes things fun but because she genuinely cares for her students and motivates them to try harder.

One day I made her sit through watching a Spelling Bee movie and things got interesting after that. Within a few months, she had organized for her school to do an internal Spelling Bee competition for their kids. By the following year not only was her school doing it but the Department of Education in the North West had noticed and decided that she needed to help organize one between schools. This was a difficult task but she pushed through (with the help of her awesome first born daughter.)

To say that she is awesome would be stealing the words of everyone who has ever met her. I am just proud to call her mom. I love you Mudanalwo Edith Khorombi. And yes, my mom is the actual best.

Hulisani the Intersectional Feminist. Hopeless Romantic. Lover of life. Blog: http://thatoneabout.weebly.com/ ther earth.

Written by Hulisani Khorombi, Staff Writer, #mygirlsquad