Can I Be Half Of What She Is?

She is one of a kind.

She carried me wherever she went without complaining for 9 months.

Then, she attended to me day and night, losing sleep to fullfil all my needs and whims.

She would scold the door if I walked into the door, she would hit the floor if I tripped and fell. She held me when I cried after I fell and never once has she said - I'm busy, go find someone else to cry to.

She cooked for me, then fed me and at the same time, she would be telling me stories or singing to me to keep me entertained.

She taught me everything that one should know - how to hold a cup, how to walk, how to dress myself, how to feed myself. Not only that, she taught me how to read and write and count, my very first teacher.

She went back to work once I was older, but never once did she say that she can't do her duty because she was working.

She would wake up by 5am, mix drinks for breakfast (I was never a breakfast person) cook for lunch and sweep the house before going to work. She woke me up each morning, and when I was younger, tied my hair for me before I went to school. After coming home from work (which would be about 6pm) she would wash the clothes and fold/iron the clothes and sometimes even cook for dinner!

Sunday was her only day off, and even on that day, she would be doing housework from morning till the evening. My brother and I had school on Sunday (Friday was our weekend), and Sunday was the only day I would not eat at the school canteen - I knew she would be cooking something special!

Every year, when I left for Russia, she would vow that she wouldn't cry at the airport, and every year she doesn't keep the word. She even cried when I made a surprise visit back home during one of my winter holidays. Until now, she would be sad whenever I have to come back to Ipoh after a visit back home, even though it is just 3 hours away.

Even now, when I am 26, I am still her baby - whenever I go home she cooks my favourite food, she washes my clothes and even irons them even though I tell her not to. She even calls me EVERY MORNING to make sure that I wake up in time for work - yes, even during the weekends when she can sleep in late.

I know that I can't become half the mother she is.

I know that nothing I can do can make me repay whatever she did for me.

I just hope that I do nothing to disappoint her.

Happy Mother's Day, Amma!

(this post is a day early because I am oncall tomorrow)