A mother's hand

I had some more photos in our "hand" theme that I wanted to share. I think a crucial use of a hand in our society is the touch of a mother's hand. There is nothing softer yet stronger, nothing more simple yet nothing more mysterious, nothing more easy to give yet nothing more essential, nothing more peaceful yet nothing more potentially dangerous. How trusting are the small hands of a child as they take hold of their mother's hand to lead them on their first steps. What a great opportunity to guide the child in the way they should go.

“My mother...she is beautiful, softened at the edges and tempered with a spine of steel. I want to grow old and be like her.”
~ Jodi Picoult

Humans of Downey - Connie

"I'm the same as everyone else because humans are all one. It doesn't matter what race, religion, sexuality, we're all just humans. I'm the same as everyone here tonight because I love being with people, watching what people are doing, how they are reacting and interacting with others, just like the police officers that are standing watch over there. I'm the same as everybody else because I love being part of this community. As a parent, I'm the same as everybody else in that I want the best for my children.

"I'm different from everybody else because being a widow, I have to be both to my children, both mother and father. I understand that life isn't easy. And even though my children are now adults, I still see them as my children. When they were growing up I think I pushed them a little harder than most parents, because I was a single mom. Knowing that life is rough, I tried to prepare my children for that reality. That makes me different than others. Having raised my children as a single mom, my outlook on life changed over the years. I had to become independent and not depend on another like when there are two parents. I think I became stronger as an individual though."

~ Connie

PS I interviewed Connie at Downey's International Food and Music Festival.

Humans of Downey - Cay

"I'm sure there are some I'm not remembering right now, but the one person that comes to mind when the term hero is mentioned is my mother, Angeles. Just like a lot of mothers out there, she sacrificed a lot for her children. She did the best she could to make sure we had everything we needed at the cost of working too many hours. Sometimes we wouldn't even see her, but we knew she was there. We knew she was working for us, we knew she was working hard for us. She was a very special woman. I'm very proud of my mother. I thank her for helping me to become the man I am now.

"Honesty, integrity, a positive work ethic, and generosity were all character traits that my mom both modeled to us and verbally taught us. She was also an example for other people. Even though she worked long hours, she never complained. She finally lost her 12-year battle with cancer several years ago. During those years she never complained about how unfair it was or say, 'Why me, why me?' Every day, she took the challenge, lived life to the fullest, and made the best of what she was given. Her will and her beliefs stayed strong until the very end."
~ Cay

Humans of Downey - Rick

"For me, honesty was very important early on. I remember one time, as a youngster, we were at a store and I grabbed some candy and followed my parents out. I had it in my hand and thought,  'Mom will probably see it and she'll pay for it or tell me to put it back.' I just held it there and nothing happened but now we were walking out the store and I thought, 'Oh, I got this for free. I didn't have to pay for it.' Then I held it lower and lower to hide it. Then later, she sees me with the candy and says, 'So, where'd you get the candy?' 'From the store.' 'Well, we didn't pay for it.' 'Oh, well, no.'

"So, we marched back into the store and I had to tell the man that I took the candy and did not pay for it. And so, how did he want to deal with this? He was very nice and understanding and he said, 'I think you mother is going to handle that.' And she did! I paid the price.

"That was a very humiliating experience. I went from having free candy to 'boy, I guess I was definitely doing the wrong thing.' Trying to get away with something I knew was wrong, and I learned a good lesson early on. And I feel I have passed this value on to my children."
~ Rick

Humans of Downey - Donell

"My mother, I'll use this particular quote she gave me when I was in between two situations at the same time. She said, 'You can't be in something and out of it at the same time.'

"I thought that was very good. My mother's been very caring and really fun. She influenced me to take on those traits. Like art and things like that, so I took on poetry. From my mother's side of the family we had musical people in our groups. She was a great influence on me by being a leader in our clubs when I was younger."
~ Donell