Monday, November 16, 2009

Bracing Up For Typhoon Diana

Mia and I will be going to Singapore for the Standard Chartered Singapore International Marathon from 5th to 7th December (the marathon is on 6th December). We will be flying home to KK first thing in the morning of 7th December, which is a Monday. And I’m taking 2 days leave from work that Monday and Tuesday.

Typhoon Diana is now set to strike again in the evening of 7th December, at approximately 7pm. So we will be home before Diana’s arrival. I can foresee an exciting Christmas and Chinese New Year in the weeks ahead, and I’m sure my siblings are all ready for a lot of bickering and back-stabbings amongst themselves. As always, I will be having lots of fun watching them with all the commotion.

Mom comes to visit every few years’ intervals. But of course between those visits we do keep in touch with each other through phone calls every now and then. Mom has a special talent in causing turbulences among my siblings. So amazing is her talent that she can cause those turbulences even from as far as Vancouver, Canada, by remote control. This is just one such example of her talent. Needless to say, that amazing talent of hers has an even more potent effect when she’s near at hand.

Mom is not one who’s evil-minded; who enjoys seeing or causing disasters. Most of the time, she’s driven by her concern for our well-being. She’s after all only wishing for all the best for her children. I think most mothers can understand that. So she tries to “organize” some things in our lives which she thinks have rooms for improvements. It is something which we children should be thankful for. Yet ever so often we find that her “ideal” solutions to our “problems” are not so agreeable to us. Then what?

Now I don’t have to mention here that most mothers are very sensitive creatures. If the children disagree with their ideas, that can amount to ungratefulness and disrespect. Mom can feel unappreciated; she can feel unwanted—that her presence is such a nuisance to us children. And unfortunately, there might be some truth in the latter too.

Mom thinks that our children should have their proper afternoon naps. They shouldn’t be eating junk food close to dinner time, because that will spoil their appetite for dinner. And when they’re not eating properly for dinner, then of course that will deprive them of the essential nutrients their growing bodies need. Not too much TV games and cartoon movies too, for those will spoil their eyesight and make them forget about their studies. Not too much candies because that’s bad for their teeth.

Oh if only we know how to bring up our children properly, that would absolutely please mom. Mom’s sons shouldn’t be doing the cooking for their lazy wives even though they’re doing it willingly and gladly once in a blue moon.

And so, we are eagerly waiting for the typhoon this December. When it’s all over, there will inevitably be a trail of destructions, and my siblings will be there to pick up the pieces.

Thankfully, I am immune from the power of the typhoon. This is my life, and I shall live it the way I want to. I shall not be shaken by the typhoon, however powerful it is.


6 comments:

Amran Bin Aliamat said...

We have to be very patient with our mothers. I have my own share of the problems too. Yes they are concern with our well being. You see, we are always their babies even though we have grown up and have our own responsibilities.

Socrates29 said...

I think all things said about the moms in our lives can be summed up in 3 words - "mom knows best".

I think it is only when we can no longer hear that familiar sound of her footsteps and voice does one actually value and appreciates how much our mothers meant to us.

While they are still around with us, try to really spend quality time with them, value their presence and advices.The same I must add as well, goes to all the dads in this world.

Cornelius said...

Welcome to my blog, 'ran!

We're all trying very hard to be patient, but of course sometimes the naggings can be quite trying, if you know what I mean.

I have learnt to ignore mom's interventions, however well-meant, but as you probably already know, my siblings are not so successful in doing the same. But thanks for the advice anyway, I shall be guided.

To the rest of my readers, perhaps a bit of introduction is appropriate here.

Amran used to be married to my sister many years ago, but their marriage did not work out. However, as far as I am concerned, he is still my brother-in-law up to now. He is a "weird" Bumiputra because he's very humble and hard-working man, and I admire and respect him.

For some strange reasons, mom also respects Amran. And those of you who knew mom will find it very surprising that she can actually respect a Muslim Bumiputra! One of those mysteries in this world, I guess.

Cornelius said...

Socrates29,

There is no denying that my mom means a lot to me. As I said, she's not evil-minded. She means well for us children. But she can't control herself from trying to "help out" with our "problems", and that can often cause a bit of frictions. Sometimes it can cause of bit of misunderstanding between siblings and in-laws too.

It's not a question of not appreciating mom. We do appreciate her.

But I must beg to differ, my mom does not know best.

As for my dad, that's a different story. He's like a stranger to us anyway. He treats us the same way he treats other people. There's not that special father-children bond. And so he doesn't deserve a special love from us. Not that he can understand anything about family love anyway.

Unknown said...

Moms are what they are simply because what their children turn them into.

They thought they gave birth to perfect children ... But they turned into disasters.

Thus the nagging, constantly blaming themselves for bringing out this bad seeds of Adam. After all, nobody's perfect.

Cornelius said...

pinku,

Thanks for your comment.

I must beg to differ. I dare say that most, if not all, mothers want the best for their children. But not all of them will meddle with their children's lives, regardless of what their children have turned into. Some of them are strong enough to resist the temptation to "organise" their children's families. They're in fact strong enough to allow their children grow up and be independent adults.

There are, however, mothers who can't help but try to "organise" their children's affairs. No matter what their children do is never good enough for them. They want things to be done exactly how they want it.

Unfortunately, my mother is one of those within the second group above. It's not that she wants to be difficult - not at all. But sometimes, things can become a bit complicated because of her.

I find it interesting, pinku, that you acknowledged that "after all, nobody's perfect." That is very true, and we should all remember that, including the mothers. In the end, mothers should learn to accept that their children may prefer to live their lives differently from what they (the mothers) deem as "perfect lifestyle". The most important thing, I think, is that their children are happy with their own choices.

That is to say, for example, if the child chose to marry someone poor or from a different religion, and he is happy with that decision, then the mother should let him, even if she doesn't like that decision. Because it's his life, not hers!