"You will only understand me when you become a parent yourself"...That's what you used to tell me when I was a kid. And yes, mommy, I agree. All those childhood memories were still very clear in my head.
You got married at a very young age and took responsibility...that is so admirable. Daddy have taught you so many things in life, and yes, you have learned all of them in a short span of time...you are great and smart. You are a woman of strength. We have survived so many trials as a family and you are the strongest post we all have leaned on during all those times of tribulations.
You have grown old with a faith as hard as a rock. I want you to realize that you should be proud of yourself for all the accomplishments you have attained for the past decades of your life as a woman and a mother. They are countless, but let me mention a few...
You taught us how to be faithful to our Creator and grateful for what we have. You have strengthened our faith and the values that you and dad have inculcated in us. I love the fact that you were able to encourage dad to be more religious and be active hearing the mass every Sunday. I love it when I see you pray every morning before you cook breakfast for us...and at night before you sleep.
You taught us how to be a good person. I will always remember you and dad used to tell us that respect is very important; we must respect the elders the way we want others to treat us when we grow old. It is one of the most valuable lessons we have learned when we were young. I was proud I was able to put up with granny's repetitious stories about the World War II and how she was when she was a kid, and all the old stories. I learned how to be very patient to her because of you.
You taught us how to be grateful every day. I will always remember vividly how we pray altogether before dinner. Even if the meal on the table was not that great everything you served seemed to be beautiful because of the gratefulness we have learned to feel in our hearts.
You taught us how to cry our hearts out and still be brave and hopeful. It broke our hearts to see you every time we were financially short. As a little kid I wished I could do something. Yet seeing you the next day composed and still going with our life made me realize that this is how we fight for living. We just need to believe that we will surpass every trial that came our way.
You taught us that education is important. You and dad sent us to the most expensive school in our place. You and dad did a great job on that. Despite financial difficulties we all finished school and made you proud. Everything we have achieved as far as education and career are concerned is all because of you.
You protected us from the world full of danger and fear. We did not understand several times why you were always hesitant to allow us to go places, to parties and other activities with friends. We thought you were just old-fashioned and a kill joy'. We did not realize until we became older that your heart were always outside of your body when we were out of your sight. Now that we were also parents ourselves, we completely understand. Thank you for being our protector and shield.
You taught us how to be selfless. The way you and dad rendered help to all those people who needed your help made us so proud that we have generous parents. You are our living example of golden hearted people. You are our models.
You taught us how to be good parents. The way we cuddle our kids today is the same way you cuddled us when we were kids. Every embrace and hug we give our kids is a replica of how you handled us when were kids.
This space is not enough to tell the world everything that you did to us. No amount of words can express how thankful we are to have you as our mother. How I wish that time will turn back even a little bit for me to be able to make up with all those things that I was not able to do for you and dad. I may be thousand miles away from you but my heart will always be there with you...
I strive each day to be a good mother to my kids and a good wife to my husband. The realization of my dream to become an accomplished mother and wife is turning me into a better person each day of my life... Thank you mom for everything that you did that moulded me into that person I am today.