As I grew up, mummy
gave me brothers and sister as my companions. Yet, life was never a bed of
roses for my family. My brother was diagnosed with Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder. I was too young to understand the pain and agony that
my family experiences. “Perhaps, my little brother was gifted with full
energy”, I thought to myself. I was 10 years old back then- and my mummy
sacrificed to become a full time housewife.
Years passed, my
siblings and I were growing up pretty quickly. I started to understand the
value in everything around me- especially the value of money. I learned my
math. To keep up with our fast pace growth, my mummy had to earn a living for
us as well. She stopped wearing her favorite red lipstick. Both her hand became
rough and thick, and her toenails cracked. She was constantly asking me to
pluck out her graying white hair. Yet, she was still full of life and energy
all the time. I was 15 years old back then- and my mummy juggled as a housewife
and a part time cleaner.
Soon, I was old
enough to finally graduate from my high school to enter university. My peers
wondered why I was so thrifty for counting every penny that I had in my pocket.
Every penny I had was the hard earned money mummy saved for us. If all these
pennies were made out of sweat and blood of our parents, hoping to provide us
with a comfortable life- Would we still spend it carelessly without a second
thought? I was 20 back then- and mummy was the person I missed dearly.
Throughout my time
studying in Taiwan, my life has its own ups and downs. I started to reminisce
all the carefree childhood memories I had. While I was working hard overcoming
obstacles to achieve my dreams, mummy was getting older and older. Little did
we realize that we are the slave of time, always chasing after time, while
forgetting to enjoy all the things at this very present moment.
Indeed, mummy was
right. This aphorism “Let us appreciate, be grateful for, and repay the love of
our parents’ has always been sow into my heart at tender age of 5. In the hustle and bustle of life, this
aphorism has always reminded me to stop, breathe, and think of my mummy. I am
23 years old now- and mummy was still the childhood idol that I have always
looked up to, even without the red lipstick.
Dear mummy, I may
have never said, “I love you”, in real life, but I will always appreciate, be
grateful and repay the love of yours.
I love you, mummy.