Iron Sharpens Iron Series: Mitzy Roque, Human Saint
If you are new to the Iron Sharpens Iron Series, I urge you to check out the inaugural post to learn more about what the series is all about.
Iron sharpens iron, and the people in my life sharpen me. They make me better. They make me more than I can be alone. And this series is about interactions I’ve had that make me better, that change my perspective, and that challenge me to grow.
This is all about interactions that have left a lasting impression on me. No matter how small, or short the interaction, if it leaves an impression worth sharing, it will live in this series.
Mitzy Roque
Mitzy is the woman who takes care of the most important things in my life, my two beautiful kids.
The Sharpening of Iron
To say that the person who is helping shape my children into amazing human beings is important to me is the biggest understatement in the world. But what she does for our family goes so far beyond what the term “daycare provider” can possibly describe.
My children regularly refer to Mitzy and her husband as Grandma and Grandpa (or in this case Abuelo). They are not just people who take care of my kids during the day. They are part of our family. And the word “thankful” doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel about them.
The reason for this entry in the series is a recognition of a work ethic and level of service I’ve rarely, if ever, seen from any other service provider.
If I ever need a reminder that someone is working harder than me, I need to look no farther than the woman I see every weekday morning and afternoon. She does a job I know I’d fail at (watching 6 kids, none of them my own, would be something I’d absolutely FAIL at). She works more hours than anyone I’ve ever met, and she does it because she cares.
She supports military families, and as such, always offers to take the kids outside of typical hours (particularly when my husband is deployed) in order to give me a break. But, what’s so funny is that she works far harder than I do. If anyone deserves a break, it’s her. But she cares so much about our children and our family that she is more than happy to spend additional time with us or our kiddos.
Many times my husband and I have discussed the potential of taking an assignment that would move us to a new home base temporarily. We both love to travel and we both love consistent change in our lives, so it is an attractive option.
But we’ve never done it. And the reason we always come back to is this: “there will be no Miss Mitzy wherever we move.” And she means more to our family than anything else.
So thank you Miss Mitzy, for taking the best care of the most important things in my life, for showing me what it means to truly work hard, and for being the greatest example of a service-based business I have ever seen.
