Once a Daughter

Posted on September 17, 2007
Filed Under Parenting and Family, Pinoy Moms Network, Promoting Filipino Image, Thoughts | Viewed 965 times

This article was an original contribution to Parenting: Pinoy Moms Network on 2 September 2007. You are all welcome to visit PMN as we share with you the many expriences of the Filipina moms, local and global.

It is not until you become a mother that your judgment slowly turns to compassion and understanding. – Erma Bombeck

True—when I was much younger, when I was only a daughter, I did not understand what my mother really meant of her decisions and actions. Often times I did not listen to her, even deliberately hurting her feelings. But still, she remained steadfast, she would not give up. She would still keep reminding me of what was proper and what was not. No matter how I misbehaved, she was still there—she never gave up on me. There was always a soothing word, a word of appreciation, a smile, a hug.

I would not understand how every achievement, no matter how small, would become a bragging piece, almost declaring it to the whole, which sometimes was painfully uncomfortable. Had there been the Internet at that time, had blogs been handy, I am sure, she would have journalled each achievement, each funny incident, each milestone in her blog. To her, I was perfect.

Later in my teens, there were times when I would sulk, asking myself why I was not permitted to go to this party, let alone sleep over in a friend’s house. I had lots of questions. Answers must have been dangling right under my nose, but I chose to be visually impaired, not seeing sense. It was a happy go lucky existence for me. I would even remain deaf to her blah blahs. In case something went amiss, it was ok. Mother would be there anyway to get me out of trouble.

Until I had a family of my own—I totally saw the world in a different perspective. I was what my mother was when I was only her daughter years back. Nothing is too late—finally, I understood my mother.

Such is a mother—compassionate, persevering, and understanding. Such is a Filipina Mom, going an extra mile to show her child that she cares, that she loves, blind of her child’s imperfections.

I know too well, that soon, my daughters would understand me–in time.

Soon, your daughters would understand you, Pinoy Moms, Filipina Moms–in time.

Comments

8 Responses to “Once a Daughter”

Belle on September 15th, 2007 11:25 am

dine, i find this article worth sharing with my daughters. i hope my little one would realize that what we are doing is for her own good.

i, too, would sulk when i was not allowed to go to the sayawan while everybody got to go. now, am doing the same thing to my little one and she doesn’t understand why?
Kyels on September 15th, 2007 11:58 am

Inspiring article. And I do agree with you. We’ve never know how it feels like to be a parent until we’ve become one.

Happy weekend!
liz on September 15th, 2007 3:58 pm

hey! i LOVE Erma Bombeck! she’s probably the funniest mom i ever know. i have two books of hers and she never failed to make me laugh out loud everytime i read her stuff. it’s wit coupled with sense. ^_
haze on September 16th, 2007 9:46 pm

Definetely agree with Kyles! I was supposed to write the same comment ! Now that I am parent I undertand them better.
francesca on September 17th, 2007 5:27 am

hirap maging parent, gastos ko lahat,lol
buti pa stay daughter na lang ako, i dont have much responsibility, lol

musta dine, good post eto, moms day is everyday ba?
pining on September 17th, 2007 11:32 pm

I’ve no daughters but I know what you mean… lovely posts SexyMom
annamanila on September 20th, 2007 7:58 pm

You must be doing things right. Look at your children. And this can be said of your mom too, for look at you!

I tried to comment your current post (your entry in the digitalfilipino contest )... no can do. why kaya>
vk on September 27th, 2007 2:16 am

Hi din,

thanks for sharing….

ganoon din ako noon….......but now I understand, understand “How Mama is”.....

thank you for sharing…..