One of the best miracles is to be able to feel a life growing within us and there is no word to describe that kind of magic.
We never realised the strength and power we possessed until the day we gave birth.
We cradle our newborn and can't help but smile, feeling thankful to be blessed with this gem and wondering what we did to deserve all this luck. Or if we deserve it in the first place.
We discover that we can laugh and cry at the same time. Like when she burped and puked her milk or when he squirted poo all over us.
For all the worldly possessions that we once felt were so important, we can give them all up with the snap of a finger just for the happiness, healthy and safety of that one tiny being.
We smile when we see advertisements depicting a happy mother and her happy child. Or a frustrated mother with her frustrated child. Because we know how real both of these are.
No matter where we go or how far apart we are, even if it's a few minutes of separation, we always leave a part of our hearts with them.
We give knowing nods and empathetic smiles to fellow mums who can't seem to find a seat on the train, who are handling a meltdown in a shopping mall or chasing after a running toddler in the supermarket.
We treasure those golden moments of peace, even if they last for seconds, and sometimes we hide in the loo a little longer to play Candy Crush, read blogs or catch up on e-mails.
Even when we are driven up the wall and our sanity goes to near zero, we tell ourselves "This day will pass and tomorrow will be a better day". Because in this journey, giving up just isn't an option we give ourselves.
We tell ourselves not to compare yet can't help but feel a little inferior when we read about mums who cook everyday, bake for their kids, find time to craft with them, keep the house spick and span, be able to homeschool and frequently go on family outings.
We know there is no magic number and it isn't always the case of the more the merrier. Yet, when we see big families and realize how siblings have an amazing way to bond with each other, we ask ourselves "Maybe, just maybe, we should have one more before we get too old?"
We seem to have this supernatural ability to detect lies, hear cries, multi-task, scream through the roof and we will dash with supersonic speed whenever we are needed.
It's ironic but we have more courage yet more fear in our hearts. We want to be brave in order to protect our loved ones but we are also scared that one day something undesirable might happen to them.
We realize how easily our hearts melt. Like when she called "Mama" for the first time, when he whispered in our ears "I miss you, Mummy" or when we received a handmade birthday card for the first time.
We say words that we don't mean when we get mad, like "It's so hard being your mum", "Why are you such a bad child?" and "Go away and leave me alone", only to bite our tongues too late and slap ourselves after.
We may forget to celebrate wedding anniversaries or Valentine's Day, but we will always remember to do something special on our child's birthday.
As they grow bigger and as we grow wiser, we learn that life is not about having all the 'what's, it's about being with the 'who's.
We always love our mothers but we didn't know what it truly meant to be one till we became one.
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You see, it doesn't matter if we are a mom of one or half a dozen kids. It doesn't matter the color of our skin, which continent we live in or what language we speak. It doesn't matter if we choose to stay home, work part-time or full-time. It doesn't matter that we show our love for our kids in a million different ways.
Because at the end of the day, all of us are connected in this journey called motherhood in more ways than one. To celebrate this Mother's Day, here's a heartwarming video of the everyday life of some Singapore Mom Bloggers. No matter what happens, remember that we are always the same. 是的, 天下的妈妈都是一样的.
天下的妈妈都是一样的 哦~ 天下的妈妈都是一样的
天下的妈妈都是一样的 哦~ 天下的妈妈都是一样的
不管风吹雨打 不管星期或例假
我的妈妈从来不放假 工作为了家
厨房是她的天下 狮子头还有红烧鸭
样样她都精通不会假 她是我妈妈
从小常常挨骂 那是因为我不听话
不要以为这是种惩罚 她只要我长大
妈妈我感谢妳 没有把我跟他比
虽然我考试没有得第一 她说只要你尽了力
天下的妈妈都是一样的 哦~ 天下的妈妈都是一样的
天下的妈妈都是一样的 哦~ 天下的妈妈都是一样的
不管太阳升起 不管夕阳它又落西
为了我们妳牺牲了自己 我永远不会忘记
将来有那么一天 我把太阳高高升起
挂在妳永远满足的笑意里 妈妈我爱妳~
挂在你永远满足的笑意里
妈妈我爱你
天下的妈妈都是一样的
哦,天下的妈妈都是一样的
天下的妈妈都是一样的
哦,天下的妈妈都是一样的
啦啦啦啦啦啦啦....
******
Before I end, here's a small touching story to share. Some of my friends were circulating this Mother's Day video and since I watched it with Ariel on my lap. I thought that it was probably very hard to get emotional with this fidgety toddler on me.
I was wrong. This short, simple 3-min video was so impactful that it left me with two wet sleeves since the tissue box was out of reach. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's not that this video was particularly sad or stirring, but what struck me was how raw and how real those emotions were.
I can feel the child who says "Mummy, thanks for taking care of me". I can feel the mom who says "Unconditional love is a mother's instinct". I can feel the child who says "I love you" in an awkward , sheepish manner. I can feel the mom who says "Are you crying? Don't be silly."
Yes, it's probably that I am both a child and a mom that I can identify with so many of the emotions portrayed in this video. Of course, the fact that it is so Singaporean also makes it resonate with me deeply. If you haven't watched it, you really should.
Anyway, I was really moved by this video so I forwarded the link to my mom and asked her to view it. Of course, I told her 妈妈, 我爱你 (Mummy, I love you) too.
Now, my mom is a very strong person and not that kind of sentimental, dewy-eyed mom. I was expecting her to reply but I thought it might be something along the lines of "Thank you" or "Same to you". The thing is, when I got her swift reply, I broke down at the void deck of our flat. It's something that you can't control it when it comes and this one, I really had no control over.
"我也爱你. 要照顾好自己, 不要只记得照顾你女儿, 也要照顾好我女儿."
(I love you too. Take care of yourself, don't just remember to take care of your daughters, take care of my daughter too.)
At that moment, all I wanted was to run into her arms and give her a tight hug. She knows, she knows. Here I am, trying my best to be a good mom to my two girls every day but the truth is I'm also a child who still needs her tender loving care. We might live far apart, we might see each other fortnightly, we might not talk on the phone as much as before. But she is my mom and she is probably the only one who will understand, care for and protect me in that motherly way for all my life. Thank you, Mummy.
So I guess this Mother's Day is going to be quite a teary one for me. The good news is I think that these are tears of joy and I'm feeling more thankful than ever to have an awesome mom and to be a happy mom.
Wishing a happy Mother's Day to all of you out there.
