I was born a few days later than expected, at the end of the month. You told me that I was bright enough to shield my eyes with the back of my hands when the light was too strong. We looked through my album together and saw a little boy sat perching on the edge of a rattan chair, his eyes half-closed. You laughed, saying that I was a few months old in the photo, barely knew how to sit properly.
You gripped my hand and taught me how to write out my Chinese name. Stroke after stroke, line after line until it's perfect. We used to speak in English but funnily when I entered primary school we conversed in Mandarin. We still do, now. When my sisters came into the picture, you made me promise to look after them. I have kept my promise and will continue keep it. ;)
I was sorted into the fifth class when I started primary schooling, yet you encouraged me to work harder. I could have turned into a bully or a monster, but fortunately you held me back from the cliff. I refused tuition, you said nothing but guided me in my homework and revision instead. I got the second place that year and earned a place in the first class. You were so happy for me that you bought me a dictionary for my birthday the following year.
Throughout my first year being the assistant monitor of our class, I wanted so badly to quit my job. You pushed me on, telling my to gain experience and treat my friends and classmates the way I'd like them to treat me. It worked. I really enjoyed my last two years in primary school because I'd found true friends.
Things started to change by the time I entered secondary school. There were more competition among classmates. There were failures, heartbreaks, betrayals and backstabs. Friends change, but you don't. You stood by me all the time. You never gave me real pressure in my studies so that I can manage it at my own pace. I'm grateful for it still.
We share the same love for foreign songs. We love wild mint but the rest of the family despise it. Genes problem, maybe? Sometimes I'm amazed that our thoughts run parallel to each other. We might be thinking the same way and saying out similar ideas at the same time. Sometimes each of us can finish off the other's sentences, how cool is that? Thank you mum for everything you've done for us. No words are good enough to express how strongly we feel about you. Trust us, you truly look younger than you really are. Happy Mother's Day!
