It’s another one of those occasions. Where everything gets hyped up. I get lots of text messages with lovely sayings and videos to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. And you know what? It gets me thinking. The messages are always about how great we mums are, holding the family together, loving unconditionally, always being there for everyone, shaping lives, being such wonderful, almost perfect beings. If I had been all of those things to all of my children, I’ll probably be grinning from ear to ear and giving myself a pat on the back. However, I’m only human, and there were definitely times when I was none of those, and when some days wore on too thinly, I was probably closer to a monster mum than a loving mum. Oh well, all we can do is to try our best to be the best mum we know how to be, right?
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| Cake baked with love (reads: love mum) |
I am again blessed to be lavished with so much love from my kids. I guess the slate is wiped clean and I can start again on this day to try even harder to be a better mummy to them in this next one year. Children are so sweet and forgiving. I hope I never inadvertently cause them to grow up hurt or broken in any way. My own friends have shared that they still carry with them a lot of the hurt caused by their parents when they were growing up. It’s really not easy being a parent.
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| Up-cycled bag |
With 6 kids, I was showered with gifts, cards and cake. #2 carefully cut and stitched her t-shirt into a lovely bag for me. I have to say her workmanship is excellent!
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| The new in thing: rubber-band loom bracelet |
As I was surrounded by all these mother’s day happiness, I couldn’t help but think of friends who had lost children, through illness, accidents, miscarriage or suicide. How unimaginable the pain must have been. We can only pray for them, especially on this day where they are reminded of their loss. I have learnt never to take anything for granted and to be grateful for everything that we have.
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| Thoughtful gifts and notes |
The hubs went to the market early in the morning and cooked a really yummy seafood soup before he left to catch a flight. This time we even had Mexican abalone. What a treat.
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| Nothing like a home-cooked meal |
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| Kate trying to run away before #4 can button her PJs |
I was very touched and contented to receive all their gestures of love, knowing that they had put in a lot of effort to make me happy. At bedtime, something else happened which really warmed my heart. Kate accidentally scratched #5’s eye while he was getting her ready for bed. It was really painful and he was sobbing quietly. Nothing I said could console him. #3 heard what had happened and came into the room. She went to fetch his favourite book and read to him the funny parts, dramatising it so much that he burst out laughing. To see them care for one another like that was the best thing to end this special day.
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| Sibling love |
I humbly salute all mums out there who have managed to forge close and loving families, where their children have warm smiles and beautiful hearts. And where their adult children can say with all sincerity that they have the best mum on earth. I hope that day will come.
~ www.mummyweeblog.com – a blog on parenting 6 kids in Singapore ~