As my mother\u2019s brain weaves back and forth through her memories, she continues to think of her parents. At restaurants when we ask her if she is done with her plate or would like to eat more, she tells us she is done, thank you, and asks if it is ok for her to bring her remaining food home for her mom and dad.<\/p>\n
My mother has lost\u00a0the majority of her vocabulary and sometimes it\u2019s hard to understand what she is trying to say. Yet, there are certain words and phrases she continues to say clearly:\u00a0Hambre<\/em>,\u00a0when she is hungry;\u00a0Vamonos a la casa<\/em>, sometimes when we are already home;\u00a0Mi mama se va enojar<\/em>\u00a0(My mother will be mad at me), usually when we are at a restaurant or store and it is getting dark. Then there is\u00a0Dejame<\/em>\u00a0(Leave me alone), when we are pushing her pills or trying to help her go to the restroom. \u00a0She says\u00a0Mamita, no llore<\/em>\u00a0(Mamita, don\u2019t cry) to the grandchildren when they are throwing a tantrum; and mala<\/em>\u00a0(bad) when she don\u2019t like something; and\u00a0Toy bien<\/em>\u00a0(I\u2019m fine) to assure us that she is okay. \u00a0And, very often,\u00a0Esto para mi mama,\u00a0<\/em>which means\u00a0\u2018This is for my mom,\u2019 \u00a0when putting food aside.<\/p>\n We have replaced regular water with coconut water in order to keep our mother hydrated.\u00a0 Mom will not drink plain water, at least not without a fight. The brand we buy for her has been out of stock for at least a week and a half.<\/p>\n Yesterday, I brought home a different brand. I gave mom the bottle in the car as we drove in Skokie from her massage\u00a0(my mother enjoys her massages, we are lucky to have an affordable center close to home)<\/a>\u00a0to my brother\u2019s house. I notice she has stopped drinking her water and I as insist she drink, she tries a little and then stops again.<\/p>\n A few minutes later I asked if I can have some. I\u2019m thirsty! I say. She looked at me timidly and says \u201cNo,\u201d but smiling timidly as if joking.\u00a0 I ask again a few minutes later, and she says, \u201cMmm, poquito. Para mi mama<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m happy she decided to share some of her mother\u2019s coconut water with me and won\u2019t take her initial rejection personally!<\/p>\n Abuelita Meches (my maternal grandmother) must have been happy in heaven today as she sent us a gift. Soon after our coconut water exchange, a rainbow\u00a0appeared in the direction we were driving.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lacareillinois.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/coco-360x360-1-300x300.jpg\")
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