Viva Vitality: A tribute to my parents in honour of Mother’s and Father’s Day
By Trudy Dyck on May 17, 2019.
As I was once again trying to figure out what gift to get my parents for Mother’s and Father’s Day I couldn’t help but reflect on all they have done for me. They have been a major influence in my life, helped shape who I am and been wonderful role models. The most prominent qualities that come to mind when I think of my parents are their hard work ethic and willingness to make sacrifices.
I have always seen my parents work hard. Before moving to Canada my family lived in Mexico on a little farm. My parents and older brothers would get up in the early morning to bring the cows into the barn and milk them by hand; then repeat the process again in the evening.
I remember one of my jobs was to churn the milk into butter, though I may not have been as helpful as I remember. Laundry was also a big job. We had an old wringer washing machine where you wash the clothes in the drum and then have to put clothes through the wringer on top of the machine before putting them on the clothesline to dry.
My father was always busy working on the farm feeding the cows, fixing equipment, and other endless tasks you have to do when working on a farm. Life in Canada looked a little different but didn’t require any less work. Thankfully the laundry was easier and we bought milk and butter from the grocery store; although my parents still worked hard. My dad’s job as a farm hand still required his physical strength and my mom still worked hard in the house. They faced new difficult tasks like going to school to learn English, learning about the new culture they were now in, and understanding a new way of living.
My mom spent the first few summers roguing (removing weeds) in the fields with my older siblings. My dad eventually went to carpentry school for a few years and later became a truck driver. My mother cleaned houses, worked in a restaurant and is now a school bus driver. Their example of hard work has been instilled in me and I am thankful for their example.
So many sacrifices have been made by my parents. My dad gave up his small independent farm and took a job as a farm hand when we moved to Southern Alberta. They sold their property that had a house, barn, shop, and sheds on it. Their livestock, farm equipment, and house possessions were also sold. My parents both left most of their family behind.
As I get older I think I am starting to understand how truly hard leaving everything behind must have been. Many things that were known were replaced with the unknown. Would it be easier to make a living in Alberta? What would school be like? What about church? Will we be out of place? Will we be welcomed as newcomers? Are the winters really that bad? Will it be worth it?
As a result of my parents’ sacrifices, my siblings and I have had a very different upbringing than what they had. The education that we received here is much better than what would have been available to us at the time in Mexico. We have been equipped and had many more opportunities to pursue our dreams than my parents did. This made it much easier for myself and my siblings to pursue post-secondary education and be trained for a career of our choice. And with that comes the ability to earn a better income and to better support a family. The sacrifices that my parents have made have been for the benefit of us as their children.
As you read this column, many things may come to your mind of the things your parents have done for you that you’re thankful for. Take a moment to let them know they are appreciated. To my mom and dad, thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for your family.
Trudy Dyck is a Community Health Representative with Alberta Health Services and works with the Low German Speaking Mennonite population. She can be reached at trudy.dyck@ahs.ca
