With Mothers’ Day coming up tomorrow, it reminded me that my mother has been gone for more than two years now. Despite this passage of time, the memory of hearing about her sudden death two and a half years ago is still very fresh in my mind.
Thankfully, the pain of grieving and regrets of things I never get to do with her has since subsided because I am now certain that she is happier and in a better place than here on earth. Sure, I do have moments when I missed her terribly and wished that she had the chance to meet her first grandchild but then, I quashed these thoughts. I have finished grieving and regrets and what-ifs won’t do anyone any good.
But I digress. I meant to dedicate this post to mothers and monsters mothers-in-law.
To all mothers, especially single mothers, I salute you for your dedication in raising your children and the sacrifices you made so that your children grow up healthy, happy and wise. The nine-months spent being pregnant is nothing compared to the years you slaved behind the stove / in the office / behind the computer / holding the broom / behind the wheels of the car / sitting next to your children / giving hugs and kisses, etc.
A mother’s role can never be replaced and regardless of whether you work at home or work outside the home, your contributions to the household is ever important for the happiness of your family.
So, please, DO NOT ruin it all by regressing to being a childish, spoiled brat when your children grow up, get married and have their own family.
Throwing tantrums just because you didn’t get your way is not advisable. Remember what you did when your children throw tantrums? Yep, you punished them. So, what do you expect if you turn the tables and started throwing tantrums just because your favourite soap opera is no longer on Astro (or for something similarly trivial)?
Tying your children to your apron strings and triple knotting it is not a good move. They have grown and they are now adults. It is time to let them go. Throwing a tantrum just because they decide to undo the strings and get own with their lives is similar to a small child throwing a tantrum just because she can’t have candy for dinner.
Checking up on your children may show that you care but doing it every two hours every single day is bordering on crazed stalking…if you were a stranger, your children may have already called the police!
Checking up on your daughters/sons in laws is an absolute NO-NO. It only goes to prove that you are nothing but an old nutcase with too much spare time.
Expecting to be treated like royalty all the time is a bit too much. You don’t even treat your husband this way so don’t expect your daughters /sons in law to treat you this way! For heaven’s sake, you need a drink go get it yourself. The kitchen is not 100km away!
Admitting your own faults such as your obsessive-compulsive habits, lousy puke-inducing cooking and tendency to back-stab everyone in your family except yourself is a very good move towards a better life for you and those who had to tolerate your presence.
This is no longer the 10th century. Daughters /sons in law are not there for your personal fun to torture and torment them by ordering them around. You want to be a dictator, join BN.
You may think you have some rights for all the sacrifices you made for your children, well, yes, you do. It is now your right to FULLY retire and get on with your own life! It is now your time to enjoy life with your husband or your friends or whomever your choose without worrying about your children. They are grown up. Let them lead their lives while you enjoy yours.
Yes, you are now free to do whatever you want and by that, I mean picking up hobbies you had always longed to learn or traveling the world if that is your dream. Anything but poking your nose where it is not wanted or needed. Go hang-gliding, go sky-diving, go mountain climbing. Just do what ever you fancy.
Heck, get a new boyfriend if you’ve been alone for years. Anything but make lives miserable for others as in the end it will make your children miserable and ultimately yourself miserable because you will then feel as if nobody likes you anymore.
Just remember, gone are the days when young people respect their elders just because they are older. Sure, they will show you the minimal respect but trust me, if you have not been nice to them, the respect is not genuine.
Respect is only given where respect is due, so earn it!
More from OPFoong
- Tips to get rid of your irritating monsters in law
- The one about kissing, smooching and lip locking
- The one on rude people
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Buy your mother-in-law a “man eating” plant and have her stand next to it.
When buying your next car, choose a two seater, so MIL cannot “hitch” a ride and drive and nag from the back seat. BMW & Mazda have some lovely two seater convertables.
engineer: kesian la the man-eating plant…I think ah the plant won’t be able to swallow anyway.
Two-seater even worse, nanti MIL insists of DIL take bus instead!