Mother’s Day: I refuse to give you soap Mum
What could a daughter possibly give back to a Mum who won’t stop giving?
Photo / Joselyn Khor
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Plastered on all ads is that message. A marketing team’s dream occasion to take advantage of our guilt.
Here I see a deluge of deals for fragranced gift sets; cards and sniff-worthy flowers.
Everything’s supposed to smell and look good for the lady who put everything in nine months to make me.
It’s all flowery, it’s all pretty, but, is it enough?
I don’t feel right repaying her for all the love and devotion she has heaped on me with a prepackaged, mass-produced gift box.
To give her a new vacuum could be the practical way to go.
Who doesn’t want a gift saying, “Your child thinks the house could be cleaner”?
Who doesn’t want a gift saying, “Your child thinks the house could be cleaner”?
So, what could I possibly give her? Rewind, what is in this process of gift-giving?
The online Merriam Webster dictionary defines a gift as: something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.
In essence it’s giving something without thinking of getting something back.
I see now, all Mum’s efforts have been gifts.
The superhuman ability of hers to give and continue giving makes me feel like a lazy ass. Especially since Mum’s Day is a once-a-year event which gives an excuse to slack off, as if I can make up for it in 24 hours.
Ludicrous. I take this opportunity to say sorry Mum. You will not be getting a vacuum cleaner, chocolate Roses or even soap.
What you will get though, is a daughter’s wish for you to know she will never forget everything you have done for her.
My piddly attempt to show appreciation in one day is not enough to recognise you for being here through the spectacularly great, as well as, disastrously difficult times.
I owe you a lifetime’s worth of coffees and laundry-folding for that treasure you relinquished when you first held me in your arms: your heart.
It has been invested in me since the day you realised I was being made, by you.
You ripped your body apart so I could take my first breath in this world.
For that fact, I will be eternally grateful.
Every single “gift” I think of pales in comparison to your kaleidoscopic efforts at keeping me alive and happy.
I have not made it an easy 20-odd years for you, Mum.
There were doubtless times I believe you may have wanted to take back that treasure you had gifted me at my birth.
The adolescent years gave you a bald patch.
The teen years gave you wrinkles and bags.
Now the adult years are upon us.
This time round I hope to show you in humble ways, how much you mean to me. It’s time I gave you back something you gave me long ago: unconditional love.
In every moment of my existence you have tried to hoover up any hint of unhappiness circling around me.
You have tried your best.
I am happy.
I am happy to be me because I’ve been made by you.
Thank you very much Mum.
Your incredible, big-heartedness continues to astound and inspire me.
I literally would not be here if it weren’t for you (and Dad).
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love your grateful daughter,
Joselyn Khor
Ludicrous. I take this opportunity to say sorry Mum. You will not be getting a vacuum cleaner, chocolate Roses or even soap.
What you will get though, is a daughter’s wish for you to know she will never forget everything you have done for her.
My piddly attempt to show appreciation in one day is not enough to recognise you for being here through the spectacularly great, as well as, disastrously difficult times.
I owe you a lifetime’s worth of coffees and laundry-folding for that treasure you relinquished when you first held me in your arms: your heart.
It has been invested in me since the day you realised I was being made, by you.
You ripped your body apart so I could take my first breath in this world.
For that fact, I will be eternally grateful.
Every single “gift” I think of pales in comparison to your kaleidoscopic efforts at keeping me alive and happy.
I have not made it an easy 20-odd years for you, Mum.
There were doubtless times I believe you may have wanted to take back that treasure you had gifted me at my birth.
The adolescent years gave you a bald patch.
The teen years gave you wrinkles and bags.
Now the adult years are upon us.
This time round I hope to show you in humble ways, how much you mean to me. It’s time I gave you back something you gave me long ago: unconditional love.
In every moment of my existence you have tried to hoover up any hint of unhappiness circling around me.
You have tried your best.
I am happy.
I am happy to be me because I’ve been made by you.
Thank you very much Mum.
Your incredible, big-heartedness continues to astound and inspire me.
I literally would not be here if it weren’t for you (and Dad).
I do wish you a Happy Mother’s Day. I just hope you know you matter every other day as well.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love your grateful daughter,
Joselyn Khor
