Half dozen delight

I received a very special SMS last Sunday, May 8, 2011. It’s from Maynard and it says, “Happy Mother’s Day hahn! :)” I laughed. This guy’s humor as usual. But after a while, I was thrilled.

Whenever Mother’s Day comes, I always think that it is my mother’s day. I’ve not yet given it much of a thought that someday, it will be my day, too. Until I received that text message.

Every time I hear my mom talking with her “amigas”, I find them weird. They don’t talk much about themselves, they talk about their kids! How the kids look after birth, when the kids had their first tooth, that the kids love eating unhealthy foods and how the moms devise creative ways to make a kid eat nutritious ones. How sweet and charming the kids could be, but how hardheaded they often are. At the back of my mind, if the kids are such a headache, why can’t they just talk about other beautiful things?

But no, it seems like there’s no ceasing their conversations when it comes to their children. Which makes me wonder, every time the kids are the ones who talk, do they ever chat much about their moms?

I guess not. And so we’ll do that here. Let’s talk about moms.

Dec.31, 2009. My mom's 53rd birthday.

My mother is a plain housewife. When we were young, I was always amazed by how so many things she could do in one day. She cleans the house, she feeds our “pets”, she washes and irons our clothes, and of course my favorite, she cooks our food. She also asks us to do certain chores, but whenever we say that we’re doing something that’s school-related, she wouldn’t insist, and just leaves us alone. That’s why it has been my ultimate alibi: I’m studying for an exam! Or I’m doing my assignment! Or I’m finishing my project! Effective, I tell you.

When I was in high school, I was kind of ashamed to write in my formal themes that my mother is a plain housewife, while my classmates would write that their moms are government employee, or teacher, or nurse.

But as time flew, I just realized how blessed we are to have her. She was our first teacher, the one who taught us full-time how to read and write. She would squeeze our ears hard when we wouldn’t learn fast. She was our personal manager. She was our nurse. She is very caring. She is very mindful of everything we need. It’s like she is just always there for us. Whenever we leave the house, she is there waving and shouting “Take care!” Whenever we arrive back, she is there welcoming us and immediately preparing food for us.

And so I am very proud to say that the six of us are products of a noble plain housewife.

This loving woman...

 

Plus of course, her partner and inspiration, our hardworking and equally caring dad...

Equals half a dozen, these five ladies and a gentleman...

...who, because of their parent's sacrifices, are now grown-ups, all degree-holders and living comfortable lives.

Let us then honor* all mothers out there from the perspective of a child who seldom expresses love and gratefulness to his/her mom.

There are just three things that I would like to say to you.

First, I’M SORRY.

          …for the times that I did not listen to you.

          …for the times that I listened to you but did not obey you.

          …for the many times that I made you worry.

          …for the times that you’re asking in a nice way and I answered with a yell.

          …for the times that you feel that I do not respect you.

          …for the times that I lied to you.

          …for the times that I took you for granted.

          …for the times that I failed your expectations.

          …for the times that I got irritated of you, when all you do is care for me.

I’m sorry for all the headaches and heartbreaks I’ve caused you.

Second, THANK YOU.

         …for caring for me even when I was still in your womb.
         …for caring for me until I was so helpless as a little child.

         …for caring for me as I was growing up, until now.

         …for being patient with me.

         …for understanding me, when no one else does.

         …for knowing what I feel even when I do not say anything.

         …for all your sacrifices.
         …for your unconditional love.

I thank God for having you as my mom.

And the third is something that I do not always say or show, but I just want to let you know: I LOVE YOU TOO...

 

          *Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 5:16