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We never understood what our mothers or grandmothers meant by it. It is not until we become mothers ourselves that we begin to understand our mothers. Sounds clichéd? Say that to me once you are in the shoes of a mother. Your fairy-tale world gets more realistic, you are more grounded, and you understand the struggles of the life of a regular woman. But it’s worth it because you find yourself showering unconditional love upon your children. Here are a few ways you will reminisce into what your mother said and how you relate yourself to her:
1. Multitasking must be cultivated if it doesnât come naturally
Your mother raised you while having her hands full of hundred tasks around. She kept telling you that if you could not get your life together, then soon you would be in a position where you must shoulder responsibilities, but you wouldn’t know how to. You teach your children something and wonder how your mother never skip a beat while raising you. She managed to get your food on time, sent you to school on time, and even got your homework and assignments done on time.
2. Being fatigued for no reason is a bane
Your mother did everything under the sun, so you led a decent life. She spared you from going out to get takeaway food because she cooked for you even when she was unwell. She did your laundry while you cared the least to sort a pair of socks from the clothesline. She organized your study table while you went flitting in and out of your friends’ place all the time. She stayed up with you through the night or woke up much before dawn to help you with your exams. And guess what, she did all this while she was fatigued. And you complained that you were fatigued with the activities she enrolled you on – while everything was being brought to your table.
3. There is enough time for everything
It’s very true when you have so much help coming from your mother. When things are pretty much on the platter, you could have focused on what time demanded of you to do. But instead, you swayed. You believed that there was so much time on earth that things could wait for infinity. As a mother, however, you now know the importance of time, and you keep reminding your kids about making the best use of it. But does that really get into their heads? If it does, then you have a kid wise enough to enlighten the rest of us!
4. Complaining and complaining
Kids could be so ungrateful. They rarely see the pain that goes into making and saving every penny. On top of that, they demand for a thing they had seen at the toy store the other day. Or the fairy wings that the accessory shop flaunted on its mannequin. You give in. And they take advantage of you. At the end of it all, they only complain. You did that when Barbie first entered the Indian market, and you threw all tantrums until your mother got you one at the price of Rs.100, which was pretty expensive then. But you forgot your wishes being fulfilled. Instead, you kept bickering of things that went on to be irrelevant later on. Now you keep telling your children what is good is for them and what isn’t. Sadly, they learn it the hard way.
5. The melodrama
You never knew how your mom got emotional. You never understood the pain she felt when you had that little bruise. Or the sleepless nights that your fever gave her. Or how upset she was because you were unhappy about something. She tried to hold back her tears on many occasions – including the ones when you were rude to her. Perhaps your mother is the only person in the whole world who wouldn’t retaliate even if you did the worst of the things to her. She would still bless you for what you are. When you are a mother yourself, this is what you will do to your children and know how unconditional your love for your children can be.
Motherhood can be exhausting, but it is a blessing too. But your mum is also a super hero! So, go! Give her a hug, already!
