EVERY mother will be quick to tell you," Mine is a 24/7 job". Some might tell you it's "A life-time contract" or "an unappreciative job or one without recognition". If she's not in her 8 to 5 job, she's in her 8 to 8 job or a WAHM (work-at-home-mum).
Besides a career, she alternates between a homemaker, housekeeper, driver, financial manager, trainer, counsellor and also a wife. Mum is multi-tasking! Why do I say that?
Mum is probably the one who gives up her sleep when you whimper the whole night; the one who holds your bicycle when you learn to first pedal; the one who acts as your sparring partner when you learn to hold a racquet and keep hitting the shuttlecock into the drain in front of your house.
She is the one who holds your little hand to form the first alphabet and number, sings the first nursery rhymes. She is also the one who teaches you to utter the first word and that is probably "daddy".
When you grow older, she teaches you how to hit the first key on the computer keyboard so you could play your games. Then when you are good, you turn around and say, "Mum, you are too slow". Each time you see water, you love to play in it. Mum teaches you to swim so you could do what you love without drowning.
Now that you are a grown-up, mum still continues to do her job because she loves you. At 18, when you want to study overseas, mum is probably the one who redeems her FD (fixed deposit) so your graduation certificate could grace the walls of her home. When you are proud, she's proud too.
At 24, when you need a car for your first job, mum trades in her 10-year old car, so you don't have to rely on the unreliable public transport. But did Mum tell you that she pays through her nose every month to settle the seven-year loan she took on the new car?
Mum still uses the old mobile phone she inherited from you when she got you the latest model. While she still gets her clothes from the grand sale, the ones you threw out are hanging in dad's wardrobe looking new.
Mum still bathes in cold water at midnight after doing the household chores whereas she had a water-heater installed so you don't catch a cold. She still does the laundry the good old fashioned way, manually over a wooden board while you send yours to the laundry.
At 26, you have taken over the family business. Everybody looks at mum and says, "Wah! Children grown up. Senang lor". Mum just gives a big smile but in her heart she says, "Fat hope lah". During her time, she opened shop early and closed late. Now you take over, you go late and close shop early. Asked why? You say, "No business, why close so late?"
Now at 30, it is your big day. When you graduated with Honours, her money did not go to waste. You book a posh hotel. You go high tech, with the big multi-media screen flashing the pictures of you and your new bride, all pretty and happy. What a perfect pair. To please your bride, you want to buy her a nice apartment. Mum decides that you have made a sound decision. Property? Good investment.
Education not wasted, Son. "Pay the down payment first", you suggest to dad since mum's account is dried-up. "You service the loan", Dad replies. You agree. One month late. Ok. Two months late, Dad withdraws his retirement fund. Mum is getting worried. Now friends are saying
mum looks so unhappy and sickly these days. Her health problems started when dad's retirement funds started running low. Mum has a year or two to go. She is worried there won't be any more funds left for the two of them as they get older.
At 35, the kids come along. You hardly come home. If you are home, it's to park your kids there so you and your wife can go for a holiday or to the movies. Now mum is wondering, "Are you taking her for granted or for a jolly good ride?" Sometimes, mum wishes she could retire not only from her 8 to 5 job and spend some quiet time with your dad without having to worry about her job, the housekeeping and the financial obligations. There are many things mum has put on hold because of you. And soon her boss is going to ask her: "What are your retirement plans?"
"No retirement, please". And now you understand why the media and everyone is making a big fuss over Mother's Day? It is because Mum deserves all the attention for once.
By, JULIE YEE of Klang
Besides a career, she alternates between a homemaker, housekeeper, driver, financial manager, trainer, counsellor and also a wife. Mum is multi-tasking! Why do I say that?
Mum is probably the one who gives up her sleep when you whimper the whole night; the one who holds your bicycle when you learn to first pedal; the one who acts as your sparring partner when you learn to hold a racquet and keep hitting the shuttlecock into the drain in front of your house.
She is the one who holds your little hand to form the first alphabet and number, sings the first nursery rhymes. She is also the one who teaches you to utter the first word and that is probably "daddy".
When you grow older, she teaches you how to hit the first key on the computer keyboard so you could play your games. Then when you are good, you turn around and say, "Mum, you are too slow". Each time you see water, you love to play in it. Mum teaches you to swim so you could do what you love without drowning.
Now that you are a grown-up, mum still continues to do her job because she loves you. At 18, when you want to study overseas, mum is probably the one who redeems her FD (fixed deposit) so your graduation certificate could grace the walls of her home. When you are proud, she's proud too.
At 24, when you need a car for your first job, mum trades in her 10-year old car, so you don't have to rely on the unreliable public transport. But did Mum tell you that she pays through her nose every month to settle the seven-year loan she took on the new car?
Mum still uses the old mobile phone she inherited from you when she got you the latest model. While she still gets her clothes from the grand sale, the ones you threw out are hanging in dad's wardrobe looking new.
Mum still bathes in cold water at midnight after doing the household chores whereas she had a water-heater installed so you don't catch a cold. She still does the laundry the good old fashioned way, manually over a wooden board while you send yours to the laundry.
At 26, you have taken over the family business. Everybody looks at mum and says, "Wah! Children grown up. Senang lor". Mum just gives a big smile but in her heart she says, "Fat hope lah". During her time, she opened shop early and closed late. Now you take over, you go late and close shop early. Asked why? You say, "No business, why close so late?"
Now at 30, it is your big day. When you graduated with Honours, her money did not go to waste. You book a posh hotel. You go high tech, with the big multi-media screen flashing the pictures of you and your new bride, all pretty and happy. What a perfect pair. To please your bride, you want to buy her a nice apartment. Mum decides that you have made a sound decision. Property? Good investment.
Education not wasted, Son. "Pay the down payment first", you suggest to dad since mum's account is dried-up. "You service the loan", Dad replies. You agree. One month late. Ok. Two months late, Dad withdraws his retirement fund. Mum is getting worried. Now friends are saying
mum looks so unhappy and sickly these days. Her health problems started when dad's retirement funds started running low. Mum has a year or two to go. She is worried there won't be any more funds left for the two of them as they get older.
At 35, the kids come along. You hardly come home. If you are home, it's to park your kids there so you and your wife can go for a holiday or to the movies. Now mum is wondering, "Are you taking her for granted or for a jolly good ride?" Sometimes, mum wishes she could retire not only from her 8 to 5 job and spend some quiet time with your dad without having to worry about her job, the housekeeping and the financial obligations. There are many things mum has put on hold because of you. And soon her boss is going to ask her: "What are your retirement plans?"
"No retirement, please". And now you understand why the media and everyone is making a big fuss over Mother's Day? It is because Mum deserves all the attention for once.
By, JULIE YEE of Klang
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