The silly mum

Back from the trip to Ipoh and Penang. A point to mark the end of the long weekend.

I love long weekends. Not because I am lazy to work but it kinda pulls me out of the lack-of-work-inflicted boredom in the office. Blog-hopping or facebooking the whole day isn't really an effective way to spend your time.

I have been thinking and comtemplating alot lately. Not that I don't the rest of the time. The fact that my mum doesn't know how to pamper herself kinda upsets me. She doesn't travel, she doesn't shop, she doesn't go for spa or facial. The most she does is buying skincare products and some healthcare supplements.

She has been through alot. She shouldered up financial responsibility when my dad went through financial crisis and it lasted for a few years. Not only did she not complain, she didn't even tell us how difficult life was and never limited us on our expenses. Whatever necessities, no matter how expensive they were, she tried her best to afford and get us equipped.

She is by far the toughest character I have met.

I remember asking her the worst question a son could ever ask.

"why didn't you leave dad and go for a better life? a more stable life perhaps?" and trust me, my dad didn't have the best qualities to be a husband when I asked that question.

"If I haven't given birth to you guys I would have done that. I stayed because of you kids not your dad. I believed in my ability to bring you guys up single-handedly but I don't think single-parenting is a healthy way to bring up a kid. that's why I stayed." She told me.

It tore me up.

Patience is the key. She kept telling me that since I was a kid. How much patience is patient? I am yet to find out.

Even till now, she doesn't know how to pamper herself. When told, she would counter back by saying how much money she spends on skincare and stuff but in fact thats not more than 1k per year.

"why don't you spend and treat yourself better? you wanna save all the money for me is it?" I said jokingly.

"You wish. But it'll pass down to you guys eventually." She said.

To be honest, that's not something I would like to hear from her.

"I will help you make an appointment to get you some botox. The skincare products aren't as effective anyway" I said, smiling at her.

"that I don't mind. make sure it's of best quality." She said, sounded like my sister.

"and btw, I get 30% of your salary next time." she said jokingly.

"not that you know how to spend it. they will all come back to me in the end. hahaha" I said, but hoping inside that she will spend it all.

On the phone with the nephew

So my mum called me when I was at lunch. Definitely took me by surprise as she usually takes her nap during that time. I picked up the phone with a thousand questions in my head.

"hello" I greeted.

"hey hold on!" my mum said even before I could say anything.

After a few seconds, someone apparently picked up the phone and spoke through the mouthpiece.

I couldn't hear anything. It could be due to the poor coverage so I begged his/her pardon.

"hello" I said again, feeling much puzzled.

"ehh ahhahh ehhhh yiii ahhh hahahahahahaha" that's all I could hear. Judging from the crystal clear voice I know it's Bryvan, my two-year-old nephew.

And also the inability to speak a proper word. lol.

"hey hey bryvan!!!!!" Sounding all excited, I was waiting to be surprised.

"ah! yi yayayay ooo ka!" Apparently I couldnt understand a word he said. I laughed so hard at the baby language I swear everyone around me must have thought I am a psycho.

"where are you?" I asked and realised a second later that I would never get an answer. Yet still looking forward to hearing what he had to say.

"aa, yiiii yaaaaaa!" He replied which I deciphered as tangkak.

Whatever.

I found out much later from my mum that he still couldn't say papa mama.

Are you kidding me? he is 2 years old already.

Well who am I to judge anyway? Someone who only started saying words that made sense at the age of 2.5 whose parents were so worried they asked the doctor if he was a mute. hahaha.

Who would ever have thought that he is so babbly 20 years later!

It's only after I hung up I realised how much I have missed him. Just listened to him made my day. Even though nothing he said make sense.

Kids bring happiness.

Can I bring him with me to Sydney? I promise I will get him breastfed.lol. Or I will just get him a goat.