Happy Mother's Day?!!!
"Celebrate your mother on Mother's Day!
Remember your mother for all the sacrifices she has done for you...For the lullabies she has sung to you..."
Huh? I was supposed to do all that? Gosh, would the kids think that I am one flop of a mother? I hope they are not seeing the ads! Anyways, in my defence, whenever I have attempted lullabies...the best I could ever do was a "Ba, ba black sheep...or a twinkle, twinkle little star"....and even then the kids have had to shut me up so that they could have a fighting chance to nod off in peace. In fact, we were all rather relieved to discover a gem of a cassette full of lovely lullabies which would lull all of us off to sleep!
As for sacrifices...he, hum...well...you know what? I think I quite enjoy my life...y'know, not too much to complain about...what with the early morning walks by the canal, the weekly Javanese massage by my favourite masseuse, the Friday night dinner for two, and lots and lots of coffee and conversations with best buddies...ouch, does that sound like too much fun? Is there even something called too much fun? Gosh, I must be doing something terribly wrong here. Shouldn't I be sacrificing something at least, for the kids? Shameful mum I must be, for sure!
Depressed as I feel, I turn to my mom...ah, now that's a different story. I don't remember any lullabies (I don't think she's the nightingale sorts anyways...now, you know...blame it all on genes!) but sacrifices, I am sure...though she's the last person on earth to remember what she did or remind us of what she did for us.
But I still remember waking up delirious with fever in the dead of the night, and there she was, a nightingale of another sort, sitting on a chair beside me, fighting sleep (Ah...now I do that for the kids...genes, huh?) But whenever I recount to her this tale, all dewy eyed and dripping with senti, she gives me this "what's-this-kid-saying" expression :)
You see, quite unlike a few moms I've met she has a strong case of maternal amnesia...not the regular kind where the mom conveniently forgets all the bawling, screaming and kicking and remembers only the smiles, halos and hugs...but the kind where she has no clue whatever she did to bring us up (anyways, she's only too glad to say that her mom did all the bringing up)!
What a mum...I hope my kids get maternal amnesia too...I mean, of another kind...the kind where they forget what a blast their mom had while she let them grow up having a blast too! Anyways, as my spouse's regular tag line for Valentine's Day goes (of course, the day wouldn't have even registered on his consciousness, despite all the commercials screaming hoarse about it) "everyday is a Valentine's Day for us" so I suppose "everyday is a Mother's Day for me and my mum" too!
Tired of grappling with all these little guilt trips and justifications, I turned to the phone...for the soothing comfort of the daily chat with my best friend, my mom.
Remember your mother for all the sacrifices she has done for you...For the lullabies she has sung to you..."
Huh? I was supposed to do all that? Gosh, would the kids think that I am one flop of a mother? I hope they are not seeing the ads! Anyways, in my defence, whenever I have attempted lullabies...the best I could ever do was a "Ba, ba black sheep...or a twinkle, twinkle little star"....and even then the kids have had to shut me up so that they could have a fighting chance to nod off in peace. In fact, we were all rather relieved to discover a gem of a cassette full of lovely lullabies which would lull all of us off to sleep!
As for sacrifices...he, hum...well...you know what? I think I quite enjoy my life...y'know, not too much to complain about...what with the early morning walks by the canal, the weekly Javanese massage by my favourite masseuse, the Friday night dinner for two, and lots and lots of coffee and conversations with best buddies...ouch, does that sound like too much fun? Is there even something called too much fun? Gosh, I must be doing something terribly wrong here. Shouldn't I be sacrificing something at least, for the kids? Shameful mum I must be, for sure!
Depressed as I feel, I turn to my mom...ah, now that's a different story. I don't remember any lullabies (I don't think she's the nightingale sorts anyways...now, you know...blame it all on genes!) but sacrifices, I am sure...though she's the last person on earth to remember what she did or remind us of what she did for us.
But I still remember waking up delirious with fever in the dead of the night, and there she was, a nightingale of another sort, sitting on a chair beside me, fighting sleep (Ah...now I do that for the kids...genes, huh?) But whenever I recount to her this tale, all dewy eyed and dripping with senti, she gives me this "what's-this-kid-saying" expression :)
You see, quite unlike a few moms I've met she has a strong case of maternal amnesia...not the regular kind where the mom conveniently forgets all the bawling, screaming and kicking and remembers only the smiles, halos and hugs...but the kind where she has no clue whatever she did to bring us up (anyways, she's only too glad to say that her mom did all the bringing up)!
What a mum...I hope my kids get maternal amnesia too...I mean, of another kind...the kind where they forget what a blast their mom had while she let them grow up having a blast too! Anyways, as my spouse's regular tag line for Valentine's Day goes (of course, the day wouldn't have even registered on his consciousness, despite all the commercials screaming hoarse about it) "everyday is a Valentine's Day for us" so I suppose "everyday is a Mother's Day for me and my mum" too!
Tired of grappling with all these little guilt trips and justifications, I turned to the phone...for the soothing comfort of the daily chat with my best friend, my mom.
Heart warming!!
ReplyDeleteAm sure your kids think you are a great mum...My theory in life is that Fun = Happy and a happy mom makes a great home...
So bring on the roses and wine and the masseuse!!!
thanks, dear...that certainly is a comforting thought!
ReplyDeletei relished reading this piece. "maternal amnesia" - nice coining, that can come in handy. and let us just tell among ourselves we are all good mothers -- after all, there will be nobody else saying it.
ReplyDeletePure, unadulterated, straight from the heart writing...touching.
ReplyDeleteRepresenting your mom's generation I should say that's the best gift to your mom on this Mother's day! Moms are usually taken for granted and your sweet memories are the best tribute to your mom. She's lucky to have a daughter like you!
ReplyDeleteYou and your mother are lucky to celebrate everyday as mother's day....There are many women in this world worrying everyday as they cannot become a mother. I am one among them.
ReplyDeletehey ganga...that was a rollicking piece of writing!! totally inspiring me to write about my mom too :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your mom will feel so good reading this. We all like "fun" moms who take care of themselves while genuinely caring for kids. It puts so much pressure on children when some moms discuss only about all the sacrifices she has made to bring them up. It sure sounds like one of those senti indian black and white movies!
ReplyDeleteJavanese massage?!! Weekly?!!! You lucky lucky woman!! Me happy to get an hour of quiet here. And no, don't feel guilty about your luxuries, go ahead and enjoy what you have. Like kids, moms come in all kinds too, and no one is 'better' or 'worse'!
ReplyDeleteabsolutely roopa...let's all tell ourselves that:)
ReplyDeleteThanks, martian, i suppose anything one writes about one's mother cannot be anything but unadulterated and straight from the heart :)
Thank you very much, ma'am!
Absolutely, Sunitha, but i often tell myself having kids is perhaps the easiest part of the whole thing...creating and maintaining a beautiful relationship throughout life is far more challenging. Then only does one become truly lucky. May God bless you...
Very well written, I am so sure your mom will be proud of you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Arch! Simply loved your tribute to your mom :)
ReplyDeleteSenti B&W movies...so true, Vanitha!
Raakhee, welcome to Singapore :) and thank you!
Preethi, proud or not, I just hope and pray we continue to have a beautiful relationship, despite whatever life might shower our paths with :)