Every mamá knows the feeling before it fully arrives. It sits somewhere between pride and a quiet ache you can't quite name. It shows up when you're double-checking what's packed, holding on a second longer before letting go, and trying to sound excited when what you really want to say is: don't forget to call me.
That's the emotion Jackie Hernandez, from our series Madrehood, is navigating as she and her daughter Aubrey prepare for the possibility of college away from home. There's excitement in the air, of course, a sense of what's ahead. But there's also that familiar pull between mother and daughter, an invisible thread that doesn't loosen just because distance enters the picture.
“Somewhere between hearing her talk about college applications and remembering the days when I used to fix her hair, I asked myself… how did it all happen so fast? In the blink of an eye, you realize: this is it. She is all grown up.”
As Aubrey gets ready for this next chapter, she and Jackie are finding new ways to keep their everyday connection alive. A quick text between classes. A video call before bed. A check-in after a long day. The little touchpoints that say, I'm still here, even when life starts to look different.
For Jackie, Verizon helps make that transition feel a little easier. Staying connected does not have to become complicated just because your child is stepping into more independence. How staying connected with our moms keeps Latino families close is a theme that resonates deeply in our community.
“No matter how independent you are, mamá siempre es la primera llamada. And thanks to Verizon, we got my daughter a free phone on the best network*, so staying connected still feels just as close, even now that she's considering going away for college.”
Trusting the Bond Across Distance
At its core, this moment is about trust. Trusting the lessons Jackie has poured into Aubrey, the little consejos, the reminders, the “text me when you get there” moments that only mamá can give. Trusting that all of it will go with her as she steps into the world. And trusting that even as the relationship changes, mamá is still mamá, and that bond stays the same.
For Aubrey, it's about taking that next step while knowing her mom is still right there. A call away. A message away. Present in all the ways that matter.
This is what growing up looks like: it's an exciting and emotional journey full of moments that feel bigger than life. But no matter how far they go, the connection stays rooted. Always within reach.
* Cierto teléfono con una línea nueva en myPlan. Aplican términos. Según el informe RootScore® de RootMetrics® en los EE. UU. en el segundo semestre de 2025.
