I am the eldest among my three siblings growing with my Mama most of my younger years since my Papa is working in the middle east as early as the Gulf War. This is the typical Filipino family set-up I see in the movies – father working abroad and mother at home taking care of all the children. There’s not much drama unlike in the movies though where the kids usually end up bad — nope, all four of us finished college and later on got decent jobs — big part of the credit is due to my mother’s relentless support, care and love which many times, came in the form of hurtful flying objects, slapping big tsinelas (slippers/thongs) and anything she can hold on to “emphasize” a point due to our shenanigans. You can imagine that “emphasis” caused us tears and some marks, right? Haha!
Growing up, I did not see and appreciate the efforts that my mother was putting in to keep everything intact. Looking 35 years back and now having a family of my own, I am still searching for the perfect word to describe my mother pulling off this one heck of a family ride. I have just finished watching “Multiverse of Madness” so I was imagining several versions of my mother from other multiverse helping her all those times. Hmmm, possible, right?
We don’t need that classic family scenario to see how multi-skilled Mothers are. Modern times compelled families, especially mothers to make more than 24 hours a day. We can see that in a lot of moms these days squeezing a bunch in a day – live on-line selling, doing financial advisory, running businesses, cooking, video-editing, reel’ing, tik-tok’ing and what not while also maintaining a hectic corporate job either working from home or commuting to the office. All those while consistently doing the rest of the house chores. I know, because I see that everyday through my wife, Abby. Not that she does all of it, no. But on how well she plans and acts on those plans. It’s like she’s a version of herself but have been in the future, you know what I mean?
She maintains a corporate job and she’s great at it. I know, friends and colleagues will agree. She works in a hybrid office set-up but it doesn’t matter if she’s at home or in the office. It’s like she’s always in both places at the same time. When in the office, she still manages to take care of Mikelle’s needs through me, calling and video-calling regularly and checking-up on us. When at home, she even does some of my routine while still aggressively completing office deliverables. She also acts as the second mother to our nieces and nephews, calling and asking how school went and talks just about anything. And sometimes she also acts like the mother of both our parents, haha! Well in a good way… constantly checking up on them, reminding them of their health and asking stories about her childhood.
I could go on and on with how I admire my wife being a mother but still I wouldn’t be able to find the perfect word to describe her together with both our mothers and all mothers. I will not be able to fathom how effortlessly they can do all of what they have done for our family. So I thought, may be I could just get tips into a tiny bit of their wisdom and emotion by asking some questions. I chatted them and they didn’t know what the questions were for.
What advice can you share to upcoming mothers?
“Always cherish your family with unconditional love and strength. Care with simple gesture of giving, understanding to everyone with faith to our Almighty God”
Nanay Pet (Mother of 4, Nanay to 8 grandchildren)
What makes you the happy the most as a mother?
“It brings me so much joy as a mother when I see them growing as a loving and caring to the family and even to others, close to God and much more when they are healthy and free from any sickness”
“Ang pinaka nakapagpapasaya sa akin bilang nanay ay kapag nakikita ko silang lumalaki na mapagmahal at matulungin sa pamilya at kapwa nila, mas maging malapit kay God at lalo na pag healthy at walang nagkakasakit” Mommy Mean (Mother of 4, Mommy to her nieces and nephews)
What scares you the most as a mother?
“What is scares me as a mother is the thought of not providing the correct guidance for my kids to grow up”
“Ang pinaka ikinakatakot ko bilang isang ina, kung nagagawa ko ba ang tamang pagpapalaki sa mga anak…” Mama Chelle (Mother of 3, Mama to her nieces and nephews)
What excites you the most as a mother of 3?
“To see their different personalities and characters and how they grow up taking care of each other”
“Yung makita yung iba’t ibang personality nila at character at kung papano sila lumaki na inaalagaan ang isa’t isa” Nanay Joy (Mother of 3, Nanay and Tita to her nephews)
What scares you the most as a mother?
“If Sky wouldn’t be kind to others. If he gets hurt and if I wasn’t able to prepare him for the real world. We’re scared that we wouldn’t be able to equip him enough for the harsh outside world. Haha!”
“Yung lumaki si Sky na hindi mabuting tao. Yung masaktan siya at tsaka yung hindi ko siya maprepare sa real world. Takot ako na baka hindi namin siya maready sa kung gaano ka-harsh yung outside world. Haha!” Mommy Jen (Mother of 1, Mommy and Tita to her nieces and nephews)
What did you feel and what as on your mind when you knew you were pregnant at a very young age?
“I was scared. I was scared we might not be able to provide for you since we were struggling for money. But it is both your father and my dream that when we get our own children, we’ll do our best for all of you to finish college and be at good status. Thanks to God and it all came true”
“Noong nalaman ko na buntis ako, natakot ako na baka di ka namin mapalaki ng maayos kasi nga hirap kami noon sa pera. Mabuti nalang may pangarap kami ni Papa na pag nagkaanak kami, pipilitin naming mapagtapos kayo ng pag-aaral at mapalaki ng maayos. Awa ng Diyos, natupad naman.”
Mama Alma (Mother of 4, Mama and Lola to 5 grandchildren)
Happy Mother’s Day everyone especially to you my wife. Mikelle is so blessed to have you as his mother. We love you so much!
