Growing With Mum

Hey mum. I looked into space today and realised how much time has passed, and how much has changed.

I used to cry a lot as an infant, and a simple bottle of milk usually fails to silent me. You had to carry me in one hand, and cook with the other.

We used to cuddle together, you guiding us to read Peter and Jane together, letter by letter, word by word, page by page.

You used to punish us, hitting us on our shoulder blades every time we made a mistake. We definitely feared the long, thin, and mean rattan cane.

We used to sing nursery rhymes together, going Humpty Dumpty, London Bridge, Bonnie, Row Your Boat, One Two Buckle My Shoe before falling asleep.

You used to grab our little palms with your fist, holding them on tight for dear life, as you guided the both of us across the busy and hazardous streets in Malaysia.

We used to go shopping, where we'll annoyingly ask for ice creams and toys and shirts, and you had to pay for the items and carry them home for us.

* * *

So, I looked into space today and realised how much time has passed, and how much has changed.

I don't cry nowadays. Even if I do, I would know better than to ask for you to carry me in your arms.

We still enjoy reading, but we no longer cuddle together like the Peter and Jane days as we read Harry Potter.

You don't punish us anymore. Sure we still make mistakes every once in a while, but we've certainly outgrown the "punish-to-teach" age.

We don't sing nursery rhymes anymore (actually I still love My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean). We now play the piano more instead.

We no longer hold your hands while we cross streets. In fact, I now go out with you at night for your safety, not the other way round.

And we certainly don't go screaming for ice creams anymore, and whenever we shop, I would carry the heavier items instead of you.

Ah, I miss the good old days.

* * *

I looked into space today and realised how much time has passed, and how much has changed.

You grew older. We shifted home. Twice.

But the biggest difference lies within us. Your children.

And looking back to the past, I think you did a fantastic job raising us.

No matter how much time passes, or how much we change, one thing's for sure - love it or hate it, you're our mother.

And we love it.

Happy mother's day.