Somewhere around 6 years old, I was sitting on the flight of stairs with my mom slightly behind me and sitting on a higher step. She pulled through the comb from each strain of hair on my head with gentle touch and gentle gesture; I was feeling the blessing of a mother as she gracefully sweeps through my hair despite the chilly morning breeze. In a calm tone, she said “Angah, when you grow up, you’ll be a memory in people’s head, be a good one”. I was contemplating for a moment, trying to make heads and tails of what she’s saying. As a child, I listen as a child, understood as a child and see things as a child.
But life has its own way of sorting things out, I grew up eventually and family watched me change, because they let me change. I gradually develop understanding towards behaviors and actions; I slowly grasp the meaning of the word when I hark back to them. I guess it’s true what they say, mother does know best. I now know and understand what it feels like, to watch your own son grow up and leave for the very first time, the reluctance of letting him go, and also the throbbing heartbreak when they didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to be.
Parents will always want the very best for you and that’s why they love you more than they love themselves. I was sad and crying when my father caned me but it wasn’t the bruise that hurts, it was the heart when somebody you love and you trust hurts you. I felt asleep in exhaustion but I managed to catch a glimpse of my father’s word, “Angah, you may not have the best father, but you’ll always have a father that loves you best”. Every time I reminisce that moment, cold tears would spontaneously roll down my check and my heart would grow fonder and the love for my parents would continuously develop with each memories made. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I’ll bring my parent’s name along with me. I don’t care if it’s not mother’s or father’s day, but Mom and Dad, I love you every day.
