A loud crash broke the silence in our living room a few nights ago. My cherished coffee cup, which had slipped out of my hand, lay in pieces. Efforts to find a worthy replacement proved to be difficult until one night after work, I came home to an unfamiliar dark blue mug on the drying rack. “It’s for you”, my mom, half asleep at the time, said. Upon hearing this, I realised that she had taken time out of her already busy and exhausting schedule to buy me a new mug despite not asking for it.
This is just among the countless reasons why my appreciation for my mother has no end, and why I ultimately think that she is the greatest. This is further emphasised by the time that she commits to her family and the support that she continuously provides, both of which will be subjectively illustrated through cherished memories.
Time and commitment
Being the hard worker that she is, my mother never neglected to make time for her kids. There was even a point where she would take lunchboxes to two separate schools to ensure that her kids ate well, which was sometimes on top of a two-hour break and scorching heat. Time, as far as I can remember, was only ever a word and not a limitation to her as she continued to prioritise those that she loves most.
Years later, schedules had got tighter and busier. Despite this, my mother would take the time to sit and chat with me for over an hour on a weekly basis, creating some of the fondest memories I have with her. The chats would range from the most trivial things to being an opportunity to know more about her and her childhood over a cup of instant coffee. Aside from creating something memorable, the importance of being present regardless of time constraints and busy schedules, are things that I felt were always emphasised.
Irreplaceable support
This attitude towards time would also translate into ensuring that the support she provides is never lacking. Whether it was for the five-year-old boy that wanted to become a rockstar without any sort of musical background to making frequent trips to libraries and bookstores after finding out her child had a love for reading, to eventually being a guide into figuring out the world and its intricacies. Whatever it was, I could always count on her, and I still can.
As far as I can remember, my mom also provided support regardless of what the task might be or what difficulties it could present. A memorable example was during one of my first real lessons in persistence, which occurred in the third grade. My battle with maths began to accentuate itself through unfinished homework and bad marks. One stormy night, my mom opted to stay up with me to patiently guide me through a handful of pages of unfinished homework while everyone else in the house slept. Support like that, I believe, does not come from just anyone. It comes from mothers who care and genuinely want nothing but the best, making their support not only crucial, but irreplaceable.
There are an uncountable number of reasons and instances that I can talk about when explaining why I think my mother is great, perhaps even more than a few pages can allow. I believe aspects such as the time that she commits and the endless support that she provides are just among some of the things that make me appreciate her beyond words. Mothers are just amazing, and sometimes we may not always see that. Appreciation for them, in my opinion, should extend beyond birthdays and holidays that honour them because they truly are the greatest.
A mother and son watch a ship sail from a park near the Macao Science Center in Nape. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
