Just as what I have written in my miniblog yesterday, there is always a dilemma or gap in expressing love for mothers who have been living under the strong influence of Chinese culture especially in countryside, and for sons and daughters who have rececived modern education, and have been living in big cities for years. For these sons and daughers, they are brave enough to say " I love you Mom", but they are just afraid of the embarrassment immediately following that phrase.

 

My mother is a farmer, living in the remote area in one of the poorest provinces in western part of China. She grew up under the strong influence of feudalism, she has not received any formal education, and she has five sons and daughters. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was the hard times for our family; we kids could not have enough food to feed ourselves, not to mention our mother and father. Mother and father worked then from dawn to dust sometimes with empty bellies,  but they always gave their food to us. Because the lack of nutrition and heavy labour that time, both mom and  dad later got many illnesses. Up to now, both mom and dad are going to have their 70th birthday, of course, with the illnesses derived from that time, but they are still working as full-time farmers. Mom told us in our childhood, working is just living, can not be seperated; you should not stop working till the time you are unable to. In that time, I really had difficulty understanding what she told me. When I got educated, and worked for a couple of years in the society, I start to notice the importance of working--life is not just for eating, so is work; life and work are just an integral part of a man/woman. Though she is not formally educated, she can always teach us the profound philosophy in the simpliest way. She doesn't know any formal theory, but she can always inspire us from her experience of work.

 

Not only does mom imbued us with profound philosophy, but also she influenced us in how to better manage our life. I remember in the tough time, she always made things useful out of things discarded. She decorated our house with special-shaped twigs, she retailored our elder brothers and sisters clothes for us, she prepared delicious food out of ordinary raw materials for us, and etc. Now for me, life is not so hard, at least I can eat what I want, I can spend money as I like..., but I always subconsciously save things necessary for a rainly day. Maybe this is another lesson mom has taught me.

 

For a great mom, things hereinabove are just a few to mention. Actually mom is our first teacher. She shapes our value, view and philosophy for the world. She deserves our eternal love.

 

On this specialy day, I extend my sincere love and wishes for her, wishing her the best of all. May her be healthy and happy. I love you Mom.