Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and every woman who is a mother at heart! Today, May 12, is Mother’s Day in Malaysia. Although it was not a public holiday, it was celebrated by millions of Malaysians to honour mothers and motherhood.
Of course, the fact that it fell on a Sunday made it easier for families to celebrate together.
Some people might think they did not have to set aside a day to celebrate Mother’s Day. For them, every day can be Mother’s Day and they can celebrate it daily.
Knowing that I work during the weekends, my son and daughter-in-law celebrated Mother’s Day with me two days earlier – on Friday.
We had Western food at a new eatery in the city. They also presented me with a new maroon purse. By now, my daughter-in-law is probably aware that my favourite colour is red.
At the eatery that night, many other families were also celebrating Mother’s Day. I saw one lady present her mother with a transparent balloon bearing the words “Happy Mother’s Day”.
How did you celebrate Mother’s Day? Did you throw a surprise party for her with the help of your father and siblings?
If you are a mother, did your children throw a surprise party for you? Did your little daughter bring home a Mother’s Day card she personally made at school or at her tuition class?
Not all of us are lucky to live with our mothers. I have a nephew who never knew his mother who left his father when he was a baby. Now almost 40 and the father of five children, he has been looking for his mother for many years but so far, have not found her.
Nevertheless, he is forever grateful to his grandmother (my mother) who raised him, and my sister and I (his aunts) who cared for him and protected him like a mother. We disciplined him like our own kids whenever he did wrong.
Now a husband and father, he bears no grudges against us. Whenever he is free, he would bring us out for lunch or dinner. For him, every day is Mother’s Day. He does not need to wait for Mother’s Day to show us how much he loves us.
When my nieces and nephews were studying in Kuching and living with me, they made it a point to celebrate Mother’s Day with me. I cared for them and protected them like their own mothers. I signed their report cards and made sure they studied hard. I woke up before dawn to send them to school and waited for them after school at the school gate. And I sent them to tuition classes.
Some of my nephews came from broken homes while my nieces’ parents were busy earning their living in other towns and had no time to look after them, especially when they were young.
Personally, I know of many young children who are staying with their grandmothers and aunts because of broken marriages and homes. Without their loving grandmothers and aunts, life would have been harder for these unfortunate children.
Hence, to me, Mother’s Day should be a day for us to honour not only women who give birth to children but also those who care and protect them like a mother.
My best friend in Sibu is one such kind woman. Staying with her elder brother and his wife, she nurtured her nephews and nieces and supported them as they grew from babies to adults. Besides teaching them and taking care of them, she gave them advice (wanted or unwanted).
Although these children lived with their parents, in their eyes and hearts, my best friend is also a mother to them. Without her to guide them, they would not have done so well in life and be so confident of themselves.
Oh, a happy Mother’s Day to all first-time mothers too, that is, all those who have just given birth. I am sure you are over the moon, like England’s Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who gave birth to a baby boy, Archie, last May 6.
It is reported that this year’s Mother’s Day is very special for Meghan. Besides becoming a mother for the first time, she also has her own mother, Doria Ragland, staying with her in Windsor Castle. Lucky Meghan!
Once again, I wish a happy Mother’s Day to all mothers and every woman who is a mother at heart.
