My Mother

My earliest memory of my mother is when my brother died. She was heartbroken. I overheard people say that she would succumb to her grief. However, she had us, me and my sister, and she had to move on. Despite the lump in her throat and the stone on her chest she went on cooking, cleaning and working. It took her a really long time to get her smile back but it never was quite the same. That was the first thing I learnt from my mother. No matter what life dishes out to you, don’t stop living, eventually things will get better.

Twice a month on Sundays, Mom would volunteer at the Home for the Aged. She would bathe the old people, change their diapers, feed them and sit for hours talking to them. She took me with her. She always made sure to bake a sponge cake for them. Mom brought smiles to their faces. She organised plays and little tea parties for them. They looked forward to her visits and they even named the Sundays she visited as ‘Theresa Sundays’. She taught me to appreciate what I had and share with those that were less fortunate.

Dad called Mom his little Queen. Dad was as demanding as he was loving but Mom never complained. She loved him unconditionally. This is the other thing I learnt from her- to love unconditionally. I’m blessed God chose her to be my mother and to have learnt so many wonderful things from her.