This set of photos make me laugh more than I should.
As some of you know, I have an adorable niece who can be very angelic yet very mischievous at the same time. She has this just-right combination of obedience and mischief, which lets you forgive her easily with a laugh whenever she does something "horrifying".
This is the kid who tells me to be quiet when her younger brother is sleeping (aww), and the kid who loves playing with and running her hands through my hair.
She is also the kid who, after you tell her to stop shrieking in joy (as her younger brother is sleeping)... starts shrieking even louder. She is the kid who repeatedly tells me my hair is very nice (aww), and 5 seconds later, she yanks 4 strands of hair out hard, and my mane now has 4 strands lesser.
I love my niece, and above is just one of the funny moments I had with her, but these photos gently remind me: Mothers take us at our best and worst.
***
Today is Mother's Day, and even though my mother is pretty faraway from where I am (somewhere that doesn't have internet connection... for sure), I'd like to write a little short something for all the mothers out there.
Thank you Mums for choosing to raise children. As a working adult now, I truly understand the concept of not having enough time to do the things I want/need to do. Some weeks I struggle to find the time to do laundry or tidy up my room. I think of the working mothers who have managed their time and energy well, to be able to work in the day, and go home and still take care of their family's needs. Here I am, struggling to find time to do the laundry for one individual (i.e. myself) and working mums (without domestic helpers) actually have to do laundry twice to thrice a week on average for the whole family.
This is just one small instance and one small revelation for me. Choosing to have children is pretty amazing. There are obvious sacrifices one has to make to accommodate supporting an additional (considerably helpless, noob) family member. Realistically speaking, there are its intrinsic rewards, but there are times it genuinely sucks (for e.g. you can't travel conveniently/spontaneously; there is no such thing as impromptu meet-ups with friends anymore; and when you are bored but too tired to do anything after work and housework). So thank you working Mums!
Thank you Mums for devoting/promising to devote at least 21 years of your life to bringing up a child until they are legally an adult. 21 years is a long time. Even though my mum left me when I was only 20, she had definitely devoted her life to investing in mine, and even planning for the future when she would be gone. Although she left a lot earlier than expected, I would say I'm all set for life, and that's all that matters. :)
Thank you Mums for taking us, children, at our best and worst. I think this is pretty much self-explanatory. It is Family that sees us at our realest, rawest selves, and honestly, we're not all that beautiful-soul, lovely and warm, all the time. Mothers see all of that, and still open their arms wide and accept all that we are and "have become" with a hope and a belief that we are all truly good inside. I think the question is not whether we are really good people right now at this moment (you can decide how to define "good" on your own) or whether we have become bad people, but it is that all-accepting, all-encompassing openness to love one's children unconditionally that really touches my heart.
Keep on doing what you've always done. Your children love you, even when you think they don't.
Happy Mother's Day.
Read more: Mother's Day 2013
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