Re-posting an old post...
Happy Mother's Day to my Mom and to all mothers.
As I was going up the driveway this morning, I saw my neighbor getting into a waiting car. She was in uniform, fully made up, not a hair out of place and dragging her luggage. She looked so different from me in my jeans and shirt, pony tails and unadorned face since I just came from the supermarket after buying the groceries.
I recognized the uniform as a flight attendant’s. It made me smile, since I used to look like that, too, almost everyday a few years back; manicured nails, well kept hair, and always ready with my overnight bag.
But then, after my stint with the airline industry, I’ve chosen another career: motherhood.
After the birth of my first child (I have two now, of ages 4 and 5 years), I decided not to rejoin the work force. My friends would tease me, ”Sayang ang brains mo!”. I would just smile because being a full-time mom doesn’t mean that you’d stop using your brain! I may not be thinking about the usual marketing plans or business strategies, or mastering the procedures in case of emergency landing. But, yes, I still use my brain, thank you.
Some people may look at the things that a mother does as ordinary (I did too, before), but it doesn’t matter what other people think because they are not. They are a great responsibility, and they involve the whole family’s life, especially the kids,’ and their future. And that is the most important of all.
The kids didn’t ask to be brought into this world. It was the parents who decided that. So I believe that parents owe it to their kids to take care of them and love them the best way they can. I am not saying to the working mothers out there that they are bad mothers. It’s a different story for every woman.
I consider myself lucky to have the choice of staying home and taking care of my kids. Some women want to do that, but just can’t, especially in these hard times. I’m very grateful that I have the opportunity to be able to spend the whole day, every day, with my growing kids. I am happy to witness their first steps, hear their first words, feed them their first solid food, or even wipe them when they make a mess. Those are memories that I will always cherish. Before I’d know it, they will be going away to college and living their own lives.
It’s not always easy, but staying home to care for the kids has its rewards. Sometimes when the newspapers are scattered all over the place by my 5-year-old son (he has been reading and spelling words like “inquirer”, and “headlines” since he was 4) even before I get to read them, I would get mad. But then I’d realize that, at least, he is reading the papers!
Since they learned how to use the computer, there have been many times that we would argue who would use it first. For me, that means less time to chat online, but then I remember they are even the ones teaching their grandmother how to surf!
Yes, I think I made the right decision. At least I don’t have to wake up early and endure the traffic on Edsa. I can take naps in the afternoon with my kids, or go to the mall anytime of the week if I want to, or just sit back and enjoy a cup of coffee while watching my kids play. Ah, life’s simple pleasures.
When I opened the door to our unit, laden with grocery bags, the sight that greeted me made my grocery trip worthwhile. My 4-year-old ran up to me, a radiant smile on his innocent face, and proudly said, “Mommy, look what site we’re at! Nickelodeon.com!”
Matching his enthusiasm, I said, “That’s great, baby! But how did you find that website?” He answered, “Google”.
