Things I’m Grateful for #7 - Mom
“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”
- William Ross Wallace, What Rules the World, 1865
Will going back to my “hometown” for 2 things this weekend.
- Visit my mom’s grave
- Visit my mom’s brother, who’s broke his hip and in the midst of super slow healing progress.
Looking back, mom had, in many ways, molded me to be the person that I’m today.
(She was a teacher btw. Giving an explanation beforehand. )
I’m independent because she told me that although the men are supposed to be the “big guy” and protect the weaker ones, you can’t expect them to be there all the time, or expect to exercise correct judgement all the time. That’s how I learned to cook, sew, iron, maintain the car, fix lights, nail a board etc.
I learned to say “let it be”, or as mom says “算了吧。”. There’s so much that needs to be done in the world. There’s so many idiots pissing you off day after day. There are some really horrid days in your life. And the possibility of making the situation(s) better? Next to zero. 算了吧。
I’m think adults (esp. parents) who fight in front of children (their own or otherwise) are as good as murderers, because they can’t teach the next generation to resolve issues like “adults” should. What pisses me off even more, is when these same bunch of brainless monkeys start renting about kids nowadays are “worst off than my generation”. “Great” and “inspirational” generation, you lot are.
FYI, I’ve never seen my parents fight or have a real argument. They do have spats from time to time (accordingly), but never in front of us kids. She says it is disturbs and unbalances the child’s thought and emotional processes. Plus, it’s a bad example.
I believe that I should give some things everything that I’ve got. Because I owe it to myself and to the people who raised me. Or as mom puts it, “As long as you are happy and gave your every best”.
I believe that no one is created equal, but that’s precisely why we all need to treat each other as just another human being. Doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, black, yellow, white, tan, handicapped, American, Malaysian or Vulcan.
Mom used to say that it doesn’t matter at the end of the day, because in every community, there always be the good ones, the smart ones, the idiots, the followers, the leaders, the arse-kissers and the evil-doers. The only difference is that what is the make-up of those communities, and how much they believe in the fallacy of stereotype forced upon them.
Mumster says “I’ve seen all sorts of students. The better classes have some bad apples. The weaker classes have some exceptional ones”
I believe that people should behave in a well-mannered way. Simply because it’s a testament to how you were raised.
The Chinese usually say “没家教“ to kids who don’t behave properly or are just downright rude. Most people, even the Chinese, think that “没家教“ is just saying someone is very rude. “没家教“ is actually an insult to the parents, because it literally means the person “did not receive the family’s teachings, i.e. never learned manners”
My mom usually doesn’t care when we get scolded by other adults (when she thinks we deserve it, that is). But she would take it very personally when someone tells us that we are “没家教“.
She also told us, that after we have considered what might have warranted that three syllables, are we allowed to sock the guys balls or slap that woman for insulting our mother. And don’t even try to call us “bastards” or the Chinese equivalent “王八蛋”. Because it’s also an insult to her, since it means “born out of wedlock”. It’s an instant pass to clobber you.
She supported dreams, soothed crushed egos, kicked ass when needed, was the mediator in this family of misfits, endured many storms in life, and I believe, left behind a legacy to be followed by us kids.
