It’s very interesting to observe the different attitudes shown by our respective mums whenever mr;p and I call home. I’m sure both mothers love their children very much, but perhaps owing to character, upbringing or cultural differences, the ways they express their concern for us are totally different.
My mum claims she doesn’t like to chit-chat on phones, so she always tries to pass me on to my father within one minute of picking up my call. She would always say, “Nothing important right? Don’t waste your phone bill. Oh, remember to buy some lipsticks for me before you come home.” That’s it. Short.
Mr;p’s mum, meanwhile, laments that her son doesn’t call home often enough. And whenever he does, usually once a week, they can talk for ages. Without a doubt, she will always enquire about me, for I would hear my name mentioned several times during their conversation. I can sense that she wants to talk to me, so sometimes, I would volunteer to speak to her on the phone. I appreciate her efforts to switch to Thai to communicate with me for Isan is her native tongue. (Isan is to Thai as Hokkien/Teochew/Cantonese is to Mandarin.) I would fumble along and pepper our conversation with some simple Isan words which, without fail, always elicit laughter on her end. Phrases such as “I miss my son and I miss you too” comes from her effortlessly. Knowing that I like the neighbour’s asparagus – the best and most succulent I have ever tasted in my life – she likes to update me about these green shots and says she will cook them for me again when we next visit. Sweet, isn’t it? So mr;p, can you call your mummy more often?
These mummies may be different, but their children love them very much. And they show it in different ways too.
