lose focus thank you, love Glen R.I.P.”
Mother’s Day should be acknowledged every day of the year.
Residents of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center (SQRC) are grateful to have their mothers as part of their lives.
Even in prison, our mothers have helped us stay strong and connected with family values.
According to the late author and Rev. Dr. Myles Munroe, 95% of incarcerated people in the U.S. came from a single mother.
A mother’s love is immeasurable. Some will travel any distance to see their child – even for just a few hours.
As she enters the rusty gates of San Quentin, no rainy or stormy days, no distance will limit even an ill mother from giving a hug and love to her child.
Saying goodbye to our mothers after a visit can leave us with the worry of not knowing when we will see them again.
“Is this the last time that I am going to be able to spend time with mom or grandma?” I ask myself. I wrote this with a heavy heart as my 91-year-old grandmother, whom I love dearly, was dying in the hospital. It was unlikely that she would be with us on Mothers’ Day.
Eulalia “Lala” Chavez Baires was my mother’s companion everywhere she went. Lala passed away on April 10, 2024. I was able to say my own goodbyes in person last August at a visit.
To those mothers who have passed on to the next life, we salute you, for all your unconditional love towards your sons, daughters and even grandchildren.
Jose Alfredo Lopez, who has been incarcerated since the age of 16, now at 35, remembers the love and support from his late mother.
Even after having open heart surgery and undergoing dialysis, she traveled approximately 13 hours, one way, to make sure that her son was able to hug her one more time prior to her passing.
“Out of all the visits that I had [in juvenile hall], in CDCR this was the first one in person and the one I cherished the most – I told my mother for the last time that I love her,” Lopez added. Being able to not only say his goodbyes, but was also able to amend his wrongs to his ill mother was significant for Lopez.
Miguel Sifuentes sees the impact on his mother of a lifetime his incarceration.
“She’s visited me in 22 different visiting rooms over 25 years and never left me alone.
Last month I was overwhelmed with anxiety when a guard was clicking his handcuffs over and over in front of us [during our visit]. I could see her pain in not being able to take away mine. I just wish I could take away hers everyday,” said Sifuentes.
We celebrate and embrace Mother’s day in our own ways, based on our beliefs, traditions, and cultures.
For Anan Jon Alexander, being incarcerated gave him gratitude for having been born into a spiritual culture and raised by a single mother who taught him to never give up.
In India, there is a mother who misses her child and will do the impossible to make sure that she is able to hold him in her arms again even if it is in prison – her name Shashi Abraham, 72.
In Filipino culture, mother’s day as is her day to rest. The family takes her responsibilities by doing her chores, cooking their favorite meals and making sure that she enjoys herself while being pampered.
According to resident Ben Shua, in African American culture, they celebrate mother’s days by gifting cards, flowers and taking them out to dinner.
“I would like to tell my mom thank you, you are the best person I have in my life,” Shua said.
In Latino culture, we like to spoil our mothers with a big party, celebrating as if it was her second birthday. We give gifts, flowers, “serenatas,” (“songs of appreciation”) and even kitchen utensils, knowing our mothers show a part of their love through cooking.
We will never stop loving our mother’s love and their sacrifices, never stop enduring the pain of physical separation.
“My mother is 90 years old – I want to say happy Mother’s Day, I love you more than life itself, I am sorry I put you through all this, you deserve better, I am going to strive to be a better son,” said resident Caleb “Cay” McClelland.
Lets not forget all those that have been sentenced to death. We salute all of their mothers as well. On behalf of these men and women, “Happy Mothers Day.” We celebrate you in solidarity and harmony.
To all the incarcerated mothers, we also wish you a happy mothers day and pray that you will soon be reunited with your children.
Our relationships with our mothers have a sacred bond unlike other relationships that cannot be severed-no matter what the circumstances. Our mother is our primary connection and soul-mate, the one who nurtured us. It is an honor to be able to give back to them.
