Help create a blank canvas for my mother

      Hello, I created this fundraiser for my amazing mother. She's never had it easy. She wanted to have a great career in fashion design, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom for me and my three brothers. What she didn't choose though, was my father leaving us when we were still very young. Ever since she's been struggling to raise the four of us, never letting go of her dream. Being 50+ years old and having had little work experience it is hard for her to find a proper job. So she is trying to get a degree in teaching as well as life-coaching, so that she can combine this with her art and help others as well.

      Her life lesson to us is: when you dream, dream big! That's exactly what she's doing. To me, my mom is one of the most amazing, artistic persons around. In the little free time she has, she tries to work on her calligraphy or other art projects. She can do just about anything. I find it such a shame that people can't see the work she creates because I know many would love it.

      Unfortunately her work is much influenced by the many setbacks we have (such as losing our house). We now live in a smaller house that is basically waiting to be fixed, but we never had the means to do it. All the time, new problems seem to come up, before we can get any of the old ones fixed. The bathroom and kitchen are 50 years old, or kitchen boiler doesn't work so we don't have hot water to do the dishes. The pipes are old and leaking. Our heating system doesn't work properly and our house isn't very well isolated so during winter it is really cold and the electric bill is too expensive. There is a lot of mould, and our roof leakes everywhere. I share a room with my brother (because we don't have enough space) and I hate waking up at night when there is a storm and I can hear raindrops coming down in the attic.

      When I look at my mother, I cringe when I see the defeat in her eyes. I worry a lot about her and don't want her to lose hope. I know, she often feels like she doesn't have any chances any more...that is why I want to give her that fresh start, that blank canvas by getting the house fixed.  I want her to feel relaxed at home so that she can focus on what she loves doing most and continue passing that love onto others. Thank you for reading my mom's story. I hope that with your help we can make her wish come true.