Almost every year, I always try to write something about my Mom and let the world know how grateful I am to be her daughter despite our obvious differences - from our skin tone to her being such a geek not that I am slow, she's just a lot smarter than me.
I have kept a gazillion of handwritten letters for Mom, most of which I never intend to give. One can definitely say, we are not quite the usual Mother and Daughter tandems but the unspeakable would attest that our love for each other could move mountains, yeah - like a prayer.
It is impossible for me to hold on to the values I keep now without her being my Mom. Even if we have these "petty" misunderstandings, I give her credit for everything she lovingly taught my wonderful siblings and me.
She made me realize in such a young age that life is not easy - never will. That aside from change, pain is also constant.
I would always hear her say the dreaded "you cannot have it all" every time I would ask for so many things in one shopping. She knew that its not healthy to give in to all her daughter's whims. Because of her, I have learned to be contented with whatever I have or was given - although, there are times that the stubborn me would resurface and ask err demand for more.
She demands us (her kids) to always get serious in school - and I tell you, she demands well. I loved how she smiled at me as I walk up the stage and get my college diploma. I knew in my heart, she was (and still is) proud of me.
When I need her opinion on certain things, she never hesitated in giving me one. Her world will stop just so she can be in mine. I remember when I was a kid, she had me memorize all her office numbers just so I can call her anytime I wanted to. I knew then that I was (and still am) important to her.
She never spanked me - ever. She has her own unique way of making us do what's right. There was this incident that I must have hurt her so much that she refused to talk to me. I could not stand that and I tearfully asked for her forgiveness - she forgave me and left me with strong words like, " I am forgiving you not because you deserve it but because it right."
But above all the things I've mentioned (and list goes on), one thing I cannot forget about my Mom is that she made me love myself. We live in a country where girls are considered pretty only when you're fair skinned - even if the whole world knows that you're not. She discouraged me to buy beauty magazines, never bought whitening stuff for me and made me listen to TLC's Unpretty. She would always say that "its useless to invest on your physical appearance because that will not last, instead feed your mind and soul, then you'll be fine."
Me and my siblings know that we are blessed to have such a Mom like her - who loves us more than herself, who never talked down on people, who never judged a person by mere appearance, who loves Economics and stocks and who always demands greatness from her kids.
I raise a glass of wine for that one woman who lovingly equipped me and my siblings with all there is, as we all face the world outside our home.
I have kept a gazillion of handwritten letters for Mom, most of which I never intend to give. One can definitely say, we are not quite the usual Mother and Daughter tandems but the unspeakable would attest that our love for each other could move mountains, yeah - like a prayer.
It is impossible for me to hold on to the values I keep now without her being my Mom. Even if we have these "petty" misunderstandings, I give her credit for everything she lovingly taught my wonderful siblings and me.
She made me realize in such a young age that life is not easy - never will. That aside from change, pain is also constant.
I would always hear her say the dreaded "you cannot have it all" every time I would ask for so many things in one shopping. She knew that its not healthy to give in to all her daughter's whims. Because of her, I have learned to be contented with whatever I have or was given - although, there are times that the stubborn me would resurface and ask err demand for more.
She demands us (her kids) to always get serious in school - and I tell you, she demands well. I loved how she smiled at me as I walk up the stage and get my college diploma. I knew in my heart, she was (and still is) proud of me.
When I need her opinion on certain things, she never hesitated in giving me one. Her world will stop just so she can be in mine. I remember when I was a kid, she had me memorize all her office numbers just so I can call her anytime I wanted to. I knew then that I was (and still am) important to her.
She never spanked me - ever. She has her own unique way of making us do what's right. There was this incident that I must have hurt her so much that she refused to talk to me. I could not stand that and I tearfully asked for her forgiveness - she forgave me and left me with strong words like, " I am forgiving you not because you deserve it but because it right."
But above all the things I've mentioned (and list goes on), one thing I cannot forget about my Mom is that she made me love myself. We live in a country where girls are considered pretty only when you're fair skinned - even if the whole world knows that you're not. She discouraged me to buy beauty magazines, never bought whitening stuff for me and made me listen to TLC's Unpretty. She would always say that "its useless to invest on your physical appearance because that will not last, instead feed your mind and soul, then you'll be fine."
Me and my siblings know that we are blessed to have such a Mom like her - who loves us more than herself, who never talked down on people, who never judged a person by mere appearance, who loves Economics and stocks and who always demands greatness from her kids.
I raise a glass of wine for that one woman who lovingly equipped me and my siblings with all there is, as we all face the world outside our home.
