My mum has always been telling me, Mother’s Day is nothing special, it’s just like any other day. But this year, being my first Mother’s Day as a mum, it definitely feels special. Yes, even though Laurent is too young to even understand the notion of Mother’s Day, not to mention celebrate for me.

I guess it’s more than the gifts and the celebration. It’s special because I now understand Mother’s Day as a mother. That when I say “Thank you and I love you”, the meaning is deeper than before. Because I’ve been through the 40 weeks, the child birth, the sleepless nights, the frustration, the helplessness, the tears of joy… The countless things that I took for granted until I’ve been though them myself.

And for this special occasion, I want to give thanks for 3 important people in my life, that is in close relation to my role as a mother.

The first and most important person, my mum.

I am extremely thankful that I’ve always had a close relationship with her. Most of the time, she is more like a friend than a mum.

We’ve shared so many cherished memories over hi-tea, shopping and heart to heart talks, whenever I feel extremely low, I just wanna drop everything for a Sunday out with her to do our favorite things just to relive those precious moments. And I know that whenever I need her, she will definitely be there, listening to my every gripe and trying to make me feel better.

I’m also extremely thankful that she is a woman of strength and has shown me what it is like to be an independent lady. She is dedicated to her work, she takes care of her household, she dresses well, she has a vibrant life besides work and family, she travels the world, she’s not afraid to try new things and make new friends.

Above all, I’m thankful that she loves me unconditionally. Something which I took for granted because she is my mum. Because I know no matter what happens, she will still love me. I now understand that having unconditional love doesn’t make one resistant to hurt and frustration. It just allows one to continue loving, amidst all the pain and tears.

Thank you, and I love you mummy.

Secondly, I’m thankful for Wayne.

I’m a dreamer and he is an extremely logical person, but he never stops me from trying to fly.

He is a social person and enjoys being in the company of people, but he always respect my time alone and allows me to indulge in having time to myself.

He is a very hands on person so he has been such a great help with caring for Laurent. From the pregnancy, to my breastfeeding journey, to starting to care for Laurent on our own after the confinement nanny left, to deciding on taking no-pay leave to stay home with Laurent, to returning back to work… His assuring words always give me strength and I always trust that things will work out in the end. And he is always the one to remind me to leave all our worries to God and lean on Him for wisdom and strength.

I am so thankful for this wonderful partner in life. Pops, thank you and I love you.

Finally, I’m thankful for my Laurent baby.

It is his very presence that the mother in me came into existence.

I’m thankful that he has been an easy and fun  baby, which makes caring for him such a joy.

I’m thankful for all the joy and laughter he has brought to everyone of us, for making a bad day so much better, for distracting us from the negativities in life.

I’m thankful that, as a mum myself, I better understand what unconditional love means. To be able to experience the amazing feeling of having my heart swell up in joy with his every coo and every smile, and to always be able to find the strength, patience and unyielding desire to keep caring for him and loving him no matter what happens.

Thank you my baby boy, for being the little angel that God has sent to me. I love you.

Now that I am placing a lot of my time and attention on Laurent, I want to constantly remind myself that I should never let the toll of childcare be an excuse to stop making efforts in maintaining my relationships with the important people in my life. For I was first a daughter, then a wife, before I am a mother. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas out there! Have a beautiful day with all the dear and important people in you life! <3