When I was 13, my mother moved her family from the projects to a self standing home on the West Side. Of course, her four children were not happy about it, we had to adjust to a life that took us away from poverty, crime, drugs, alcohol and abuse.  But the change was necessary for my mother, because she wanted better for her children, and she wanted better for herself.  So she worked, saved, sacrificed herself, to come up with a down payment for her first (and only) home.  We moved the last day after school, so we would have the summer to get to know the neighborhood, the people and build friendships.  Of course it was a very hard process, but it was well worth it.  We were about to play and walk freely outside without worrying about gunshots, the pushers, the constant screaming, the endless fights that broke out randomly almost for no reason.  We didn't have to worry about staying within earrshot of my mother's voice, and when the sun went down, we didn't have to run home.  We could stay outside and still play hide and seek, tag and kickball.  But the greatest joy we ever knew was how happy it made our mother.  She finally seemed to relax, she didn't worry as much, and she just seemed so much happier.  She loved the summer, and I think that first summer she spent in the house was probably her best one ever.  One morning, I'll never forget a conversation I had with my mother.  On the weekends, she grew into the habit of taking her coffee and toast and going to the front porch to eat.  I made myself a cup of coffee and joined her.  We were sitting on our little porch chairs enjoying the peaceful, quiet morning, just enjoying the silence.  Suddenly she made a funny noise and I looked over her and saw that she was crying.  This was very unusual seeing how my mother was never an over emotional person.  For her to cry was a big deal in deed.  "Mom?"  I asked.  "What's wrong?"   She set her cup down and rubbed her eyes.  "I'm just so happy."  she whispered.  "I'm happy because I never thought the day would come, when we would have our own front porch"  There was nothing I could do but hug her and cry too.  Only then did I finally understand how much my mother loved her family.