She was from Pakistan and we would chat for long, the similarities and differences in our respective countries. While our daughters quickly became friends, so did we, the Moms. During one of those regular park days, I met a young lady who had come down from Chicago for summer vacations to her aunt's place here in California. Going to the park was a daily and much anticipated event for my pre-schooler daughter then. We shifted to an apartment that was right next to the kid's park. Her hair was always concealed neatly inside her chiffon dupatta.Īfter a few months, we upgraded to an extra bedroom apartment within the same community. She was always modestly dressed in cool cotton, long sleeved shalwars in soft pastel colors. As is the typical customary American style of greeting. We used to smile at each other while crossing paths, not really caring to go beyond that polite and cheery “Hi!”. She was a beautiful, extremely fair and pleasant middle aged lady. I still remember my initial memories of her in California. A lady who I had the privilege of meeting and knowing, a 'not so long' while ago! I will just call her 'The Mother’ because that's what I will always remember her as. There is one gem of a lady who I cannot help but be reminded of on this beautiful day. This Mother´s Day, I want to share a beautiful real life story. Indeed, priceless moments like these make me feel so blessed being a mother. I wouldn´t trade all the money in the world for such tiny, sweet gestures of love. It is little instances like these that make me a very proud and contended mother.

Ha-ha!īut that day, I was touched by her love, concern and sensitivity for me. After some mild protesting, she became my unwilling helper while mumbling and grumbling all along, how no work is to be done on Mother's Day and how that was the rule. ' I reply, 'That's very sweet, darling but why don't you join me in today?'. She replies, 'I don't mind the little mess, Mummy. Today is Mother's Day.” I tell her the house needs to be set in order nonetheless. My daughter comes up to me and strictly orders, 'Mummy, No house work today. Last year on Mother´s Day, I woke up and got started with my daily routine work as usual. Imagine my amusement and tad embarrassment on reading this! Like for one Mother´s Day, she wrote that my favourite hobby was lying down or sleeping. To be honest, some of them are downright funny, mushy and so unexpected.

So far, she has delighted my soul with some of the most amusing and sweetest handmade cards. And each year, this day keeps getting more special and exciting as my daughter grows a teeny weeny wiser along the way.

SOUL SOJOURN by Tina Sequeira