Half a century worth of awesomeness

Whatever could I be talking about? Nothing other than the person who brought me into this world: my mother.  You see, today she’s hit another big 0 – you guessed it, 50 – and I would like to take the time to dedicate this entry to her. Naturally, awesomeness is in the eye of the beholder. So let me tell you why my mother is awesome, in my most humble, albeit appreciative, opinion. I shall give you half a century’s worth of reasons for why she is the best, coolest mother in the world.

1. My mother is intelligent. That head of hers isn’t just up there to look good. Although I don’t actually know what her IQ is, I respect her for for being the smart woman whose problem-solving skills have saved our family more than once.
2. My mother is patient. She doesn’t live her life in a hurry and knows that good things do indeed come to those who wait. My mother is aware that each and every person goes about their own pace and doesn’t forcefully try to get others to match hers.
3. My mother is objectively kind. I remember a time when us kids were teasing another not-so-popular boy from the village, until some of the boys actually threw rocks and his head started bleeding. She reprimanded us for our cruelty before taking in the boy inside and taking care of his wounds and tears.
4. My mother is encouraging. It has always been important to her that her children would pursue their dreams, rather than living a life of regret and what-ifs.  She wants us to have chances that were never given to her.
5. My mother is supportive. Because she wishes for her children’s happiness, my mother always gives it her all to help us realize our dreams and potential, even when it puts both emotional and financial strains on her.
6. My mother is optimistic. Granted, nobody can see the positive in everything all the time. But she always tries to stay on a path of positive attitude, affirmations, feelings, and well-being. Because only a positive soul with attract positive events.
7. My mother is intuitive. She is quite capable in distinguishing from what people say they want and what they actually want; she knows what sort of people to avoid because they would literally suck the life out of you.
8. My mother is teaching. I don’t just mean that in the sense that us children learn from her the ways of the world. She’s also giving a variety of classes, e.g. on how to make your own, all natural, cosmetics and delicious treats. Her courses are popular with adults and children alike.
9. My mother is enjoying life. Even when overwhelmed with bills and other worries, she still finds the time to treat herself and others well. After all, she doesn’t merely want to exist; she desires to live and make the most of it.
10. My mother is an artist. I have a sketchbook from when she was younger, and her sketches of animals are amazing. I am not anywhere close to drawing this realistic, but I keep the book around for reference when I attempt drawing some critters. Additionally, during our holidays, she’d keep a diary on events, and always insert a few hilarious doodles to go along with the entries.
11. My mother is open-minded. I’ve been told quite early that my mother wouldn’t object if I was of deviant sexuality. At times she must have downright expect me to be a lesbian, haha. But seriously, she’s cool with anything, as long as it makes me happy. For another example, she was surprised to find me reading Yaoi, but she doesn’t shun it, even if it’s not the type of thing she’d pursue herself.
12. My mother is practicing what she preaches. There’s no point in teaching the kids to do something when you yourself are acting the opposite way, after all. My mother is aware of her role model function and, in turn, has made us aware of our own. So I try to be at my best behaviour wherever I go
13. My mother is fun. I have to say, I don’t ever recall being bored when she’s around. She knows quite a few jokes and interesting pastimes, and if anyone still says they’re bored, she’ll have something to do for them.
14. My mother is good with numbers. While this is more or less a requirement for the job she learned, I still think it is pretty awesome. Juggling numbers right and left, getting everything to make sense at the end of the day.
15. My mother is crafty. I’ve got the one or other pullover she made for me, and I treasure those dearly. Lately, she’s begun making those amigurumi. She even promised to make an Umbreon one for me. <3
16. My mother is an animal lover. Seriously, we’ve always had half a farm. Cats, chicken, ducks, dogs, aquarium fish, quails… you name it. Occasionally rabbits and guinea pigs. None of them get eaten, and all stay with her until their time on earth is naturally coming to an end.
17. My mother is strong. I’m not necessarily speaking physical here. Rather, when I recall the many events she’s been through in her life, the losses, the pains, the betrayals… I often wonder how she manages to keep standing up again and walking.  Although I’ve been told that I too possess this quality, I nonetheless feel that she is much stronger.
18. My mother is helpful. This goes for a variety of things, from homework to moving. She helps out where she can and how she can. I suppose this ties in with her encouragement and support, but felt that it’s very well worth its own point.
19. My mother is appreciating the small things in life. Something I still have trouble with myself, admittedly. But I’m getting better at stopping to smell the roses, listening to the birds’ tunes, or simply enjoying a peaceful sunset.  My mother always finds time for a few little details.
20. My mother is a survivor. She had been diagnosed with intestinal cancer – but she overcame it, entirely without drugs or chemo.  The whole family radically changed diets when the news hit home.  Whenever I become aware that I could have lost her like I did my grandmother, it really hits home.  Did I mention I might be next in line?
21. My mother is striving for harmony. When she got together with my stepfather, there was a lot of tension, because as kids, and my brother in particular, were not too fond of him.  We even had family therapy sessions and the like.  Of course, as we grew and matured, we did end up getting along somehow. :3
22. My mother is fair. How can I explain this best? I suppose it makes the most sense when I relate to childhood disputes with my brother. Of which there were lots. But hey, if we couldn’t solve an argument on our own, she would. And we’d have to settle with her judgment.
23. My mother is taking children as serious as adults. We never got to hear the story of the stork (which I was quite surprised to hear of eventually). My mother would tell us things as they were, though of course she’d try to do it in a way that we’d understand. Still, I don’t remember a time where I didn’t know how babies where made. For my mother, children are essentially little adults. And while she does agree that there are things inappropriate for certain ages, she does not rely on a wall of illusions to delay confrontation.
24. My mother is independent. I suppose in a sense, she had to be.  But really now, she was not pleased with the thought of depending on people, in particular when she knew that it would make little difference, and so she worked her way towards being independent from parents and spouses. I hope to get to that point eventually.
25. My mother is knowledgeable. While I am more of a “Random Fact of the Day” person, she is well versed in a great many areas, putting my own knowledge to shame.  Though I suppose my youth excuses my lack. A little. Her proficiency lies particularly in the recognizing and usage of herbs and other natural bounty, be it in the kitchen or for the medicine cabinet.
26. My mother is creative. As children, we had a blast whenever our birthday came up, for we would get themed parties with lots of games to play. Halloween too is amazing when my mum decorates the house and garden and prepares to spook the kids.  I hope I can be there this year. :3
27. My mother is not pressuring me. I’m doing that all by myself. When failure’s got me down, like a bad test score, she cheers me up and says I can always do better next time. She never makes me feel like I’m a total loser. I’m doing that all by myself.
28. My mother is direct. No beating around the bush or hinting till you drop here.  When there’s something on her mind, she’ll say it. None of that guessing around. Another quality of hers that I am proud to possess. ^_^
29. My mother is trusting me. When I say I’ll be back home by 10, I will be home. When I say that I am not taking any drugs, I won’t be taking them. She knows that, and because she trusts me, I actually grew up with relatively little restrictions. And for her to trust me is something that I don’t ever want to change.
30. My mother is witty. I love to have the last words in an argument, but dang, some of her comebacks are just unbeatable. I hate and love that at the same time, and always strive to become just as witty…
31. My mother is an inspiration. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed how much I want to be like her… I didn’t always think like this, but in the end, I think that ending up like my mother wouldn’t be a horrible fate after all.  She’s the person I look up to in this world. Although I don’t tell her that often enough.
32. My mother is naughty. I’ve got some of my best dirty jokes from her, plus a couple anecdotes that are shared with trusted friends. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face. XD
33. My mother is a great cook. There really isn’t anything in the world that compares to a mother’s home cooking, is there? I fondly recall a few unusual recipes as well.
34. My mother is generous. She doesn’t need an occasion to reward me with gifts. She spends a few bucks more on me. She sees something she thinks I might like, so she gets it for me. <3
35. My mother is keeping up with the electronic age. As a matter of fact, in some matters she’s way ahead of me. She’s also a proud mac user, and always the first one in the house to have a variety of iPods, the iPad, iMac… and of course, she has a blog! It’s visited even more frequently than mine T^T – but naturally, she deserves it.
36. My mother is a poet. For family reunions during weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, she’d make the most fun and interesting poems, which also sparked my interest in rhyming and composing art out of words. Dang she’s eloquent.
37. My mother is adventurous. How else could I explain those insanely fun two weeks we spent in Sweden? Or any other holiday, for that matter. Oh how I miss those family holidays… I get all jealous when I hear about where they went this time.
38. My mother is gentle. One of the first things she established when we moved in with my stepfather was that she never hits her children. She uses words (or lack thereof) to discipline, not pain. And there’s nothing quite like hugging her.
39. My mother is a nature-loving person. She enjoys walking along the beach or traversing through forests, and spends lots of time in the garden. Apart from her classes, she also offers tours through the forest where she shows the interested masses all sorts of herbs, berries and mushrooms, and what to do with them.
40. My mother is vibrant. Sometimes she just seems overflowing with life and enthusiasm. Just seeing her like that makes me incredibly happy, because I think she more than deserves to be enjoying her life. And you can really see and feel that she is doing just that.
41. My mother is a story teller. As children, we’d often listen to her tales, sometimes right before bedtime. But she also writes; I’ve read a few of her pieces, always pondering how much of it was fact or fiction.
42. My mother is caring. This is something that can be seen in virtually everything she does, but, naturally, is best observed in her interactions with plants, animals, and people. Sometimes I wonder how she does it. I mean, personally I am still wrestling with my wanting to trust in others versus a lot of disappointments. But I think I’ll get there too… that point at which I can care for everyone. Like a mother does. Like MY mother does.
43. My mother is in love with the sea. It has always been important to her to live somewhere close to a large body of water. Those times we lived in concrete jungles were not the happiest for her. But when she can dip her feet every now and then and listen to the waves, it soothes her heart.
44. My mother is forgiving. There are some things I did as a kid that I feel quite guilty over even now. Or perhaps, especially now. I’ve cost her a lot of nerves, money, and who knows what. But eventually, all things are in the past, and my mother does not needlessly bring them up, because she values harmony over mindless confrontation.
45. My mother is aware of the signs of time. Take politics, for one. Changes do not happen over night; there are signs to be found everywhere as time marches on. My mother has an eye for those things, and predicting where the country is headed is less of a divine gift and more of an observation. She reminds me that ignoring those signs is one of the worst things I could do.
46. My mother is active. And more so than I T^T. She runs in the mornings, among other things. And here I am, wishing that I’d be more active, when all I have to do is to do it. Damn that procrastination…
47. My mother is a healer. Hearts, minds, wounds, she heals them all. She knows Reiki, knows how to make the most useful concoctions with her herbs, understands some homeopathy and knows what to say at any given time.
48. My mother is giving great advice. Although I don’t always want great advice; or I don’t heed it. Still, it becomes clear that she puts a lot of thought and heart into the guidance she gives, and once you realize that, you’ll come back to her for more.
49. My mother is comforting. Caressing my hair, just listening to what I have to say… and occasionally coming up with a few revenge options, silly but satisfying. Mind you, now that I’m older, I don’t have that luxury as often anymore… but if need be, I know she’ll be there for me.
50. My mother is loving me unconditionally. Now you might say that any mother should do that, but it isn’t always the norm.  I appreciate that my mother loves me without ever expecting anything in return. She loves me for who I am, and I will always be her daughter. That thought is something I hold very dear.

And there you have it. 50 reasons why my mother is the best mother in the world. Surely I could put a few more up there… but maybe I should wait till the next big birthday for that.

On that note, she’s also the reason why I won’t tolerate anyone directing Yo’ momma jokes at me. Make fun of me all you want, but don’t you dare insult the woman who birthed and raised me.