Family connections
I grew up with a crazy close connection to my grandma. She was my safe space—someone I could visit, someone I could call for guidance at any time. We took countless trips together, including a fun one right after I turned 21. She got me into panda bears when I was little—it became our thing. She would send me small panda gifts in the mail, and when we visited the San Diego Zoo, we always made a point to see the pandas.
When I started teaching, I decided to keep the panda theme for my classroom because it brought me so much joy—and many of the pandas were gifts from her. She was so happy to add even more to my collection.
When I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter, her excitement was contagious. It felt like a “panda” times a million! A few years later, when I was expecting my second daughter, dementia had started to affect her. She struggled to process the news, and sadly, she passed away a month before my second daughter was born.
I believe her spirit and personality live on in my kids. To symbolize them, I got their birth flowers and a panda tattooed on my thigh. It was my very first tattoo. I was nervous and sat for eight hours—but I LOVE it. Every day I look at it, it reminds me of her, of them, and of the love that ties us all together.