little bitty girl

Mothers truly are incredible creatures. They have the wonderful ability to always sense when something is wrong, when you're about to do something bad, to shake off insults when as a mean teenager you've said something so horrendously spiteful to them, to eat all the stuff on your plate that you don't want to eat and best of all, to have the patience of a saint. The best thing is also their incredible versatility to be mother figures to others.

Maybe it's just me, but my youth was truly spent being raised by a "village." I have been equally cursed and blessed by having many mother figures in my life. Cursed because there is no way you can put one toe out of line without one mother figure finding out and giving you the "Don't-misbehave-or-you-are-so-gonna-get-it" stare and blessed because there are always extra helping hands to pick you up when you fall and give you a hug when you need it.

I have been so lucky to have been and still am close to my extended family as we are truly a family of women on both sides. Both grandmas rule the roost with an iron fist but with hearts of love. My aunts on my dad's and mum's sides have always been a sounding board when I have felt lost and unsure and couldn't yet confess my misdeeds to my own mum. They've also given me incredible insight to my parents and how they were when they were young. It's helped me understand them so much more. Then there is my Aunt Susan, mum of my childhood best friend, Mae Fong and although she is not an aunt by blood, she is blood to me all the same.

And now that I am at an age where my cousins are having children, I see what incredible mothers they have turned out to be. All these fiercely, independent, young women; showing me that it is possible to be who you are and yet still be the mothers you want to be.

Then there is my own mum - my sacred heart, my head chef, my master gardener, my spiritual soundboard, my turtle walker(she has the record for world's slowest walker), my fellow giggler, my optimist, my dear friend. My mum has played so many different roles in my life.

As a child, I thought that she was a giant among women. She's now a shrimp, as I am taller than her although she will never admit it that it's her bouffant that gives her the illusion of extra height. She was the one who taught me the pleasures of the written word, encouraged me to write my feelings on paper, showed me the joy of food, and enlightened me on the importance of social consciousness.

As a teenager, she was always my disciplinarian, trying to make me walk the narrow path when all I wanted to do was stray, she drove me crazy the only way all mothers of teenage daughters do. But she also taught me the value of money and responsibility by making me take a part time job and always stressed the importance of kindness and intelligence as opposed to social popularity. She encouraged me to be all I could be.

Now as a woman, my mother is still teaching me many life lessons. She has taught me the importance of understanding and patience in relationships, the joy of friends, the need to be forgiving and that nothing is better than a good laugh. I am so fortunate to have a mother who is also a mother to all who needs one. She has been there for friends, cousins and strangers alike. She has taught me so much about the joy of family.

I love that she understands the stresses of modern day life and puts no pressure on me to always be there. I love that she is always there when I need to work something out in my head, even when I sound like a raving lunatic at times. I love that I can go home and be an utter baby and still sit on her lap if I want to. I love that she lets me tease her mercilessly. I love that she loves all my idosyncracies and still thinks I am great. I love that we can laugh so hard about nothing just by hearing each other's voices. I love that she loves my dad, brothers and Stefan so much.

So to all my mother figures and especially, my mum; I hope to be half the mother you guys were to me. I hope to be the best mother figure to my brothers', cousins' and friends' children as well. If I can manage that, I know all the kids will be turn out more than o.k. Thank you for always being there and Happy Mother's Day!