Queen Mother

My mother just turned 65 last Saturday, December 5. Before her special day, we were asking her what were her plans for that day because two (2) of my siblings gave her money to at least celebrate but she answered, 'padadaanin ko na lang' or I will just let it pass. Even my aunt told her you should ask your kids, maybe they are just waiting for you to ask them but she insisted no and that she is shy. My 5-year old daughter was even excited and has been preparing her greetings card weeks before that day.

My mother is always like that, as much as possible she don't want to ask something from us her children especially when it involves money. I don't know what is playing in her mind that she is like that, she would just have the courage to ask when she has nothing left. Maybe because she have gone through so much as a child or there's something else that she has been hiding or keeping to herself.

My mother (Nanang) grew up in a not so happy environment, although our grandma gave her best to protect her and her brother but of course she can only do so much. Like every soap operas, they have their own sets of villains too. Yes, some of their aunts never welcomed them to be part of the family since our grandfather chose to be with another family and left them.

Nanang saw how my grandmother struggled and somehow abused verbally and emotionally and even treated them as slaves by some relatives because at that time they considered them as illegitimate although they are the 1st family. She and her brother was not even excused although their grandparents loved them as they are the 1st grandchildren but what can the oldies do if more forces joined against them. Yeah, it's like a real life drama that even as we grow up we also saw these kind of treatment from them. We witnessed and felt as if we don't belong to the family.

Nanang is an example of selfless and strong woman. She never got discouraged of these kind of treatment and never thought of fighting back. Instead, she instilled in us the value of family and of love. She and my father worked hard and be successful in our own field. She never complained and saw her crying, but of course we sometimes felt that there is something wrong but we never asked them.

Nanang and Tatang managed to send us to school and all the 7 of us graduated in college. We saw how they struggle much and borrow money from close family and friends and their list of debts was really long. They endured so much that all of us just wanted to give back and make them enjoy the fruits of their love and labor. It's just sad that Tatang was not able to witness our youngest brother's graduate. But I know he is watching us from heaven now☺️

Now back to Nanang, those relatives who looked down on her or us have learned to accept her and I think as time passed by they realized that my mother don't deserve that kind of treatment. And sometimes we felt that they are shy to ask for help and to come to our house unless it's really necessary and urgent.

We wanted our mother to experience a good life, the life that was deprived from her since she's a kid. We want her to experience having birthday celebrations and not to worry where to borrow money and to be frugal in spending. She has experienced a lot that we want to give her nothing but the best.

She still got emotional especially during her birthdays, I think that's the only time that her joy will burst or something but we are glad to see that way. She is our queen mother and our success and attitude towards life and family is because of her.

On her special day, I wish her good health, happiness and long and best life deserving of a queen. That God will grant her heart's desire that she may be able to share more of her kindness, love and compassion to not just me and the whole family but to everyone.

...^•°...

Thanks for reading.

Keep inspiring. Keep smiling.

XOXO,

bbghitte