by Jac Emma John

Created on: July 12, 2009

I remember when I was in my teens, money is never a consideration when I dated my boyfriend. As long as I was with the love of my life, just to be with him under the moon was heaven to me. It didn't matter that we did not have expensive candlelit dinner at the posh restaurant or he could only give me flowers he plucked from the park. My heart was filled with love and I was touched by his every act of love to me. I could not understand why young beautiful ladies would choose to date old gentlemen in the big Mercedes Benz but dump the muscular handsome hunks!

I had changed a fair bit in my twenties I still dated for love, but I got tempted a lot more now when I look across the street into the expensive boutiques and saw middle-aged men paying for all the expensive shopping of their much younger partners. I also complained when my boyfriend brought me to the family restaurant on Valentine's Day and gave me a box of heart-shaped Cadbury Chocolate instead of the Italian restaurant in a 5-star hotel I hinted so many times for almost a month before Valentine's Day. However, he did manage to save enough to get the 2 of us on a budget holiday to Thailand one year and I was so touched that I was almost on my knee, drowning my self in my tears.. The trip was wonderful though we were staying at a budget hotel and had to be really careful with our daily spending, preferring to walk sometimes over taxi, and will stuffed ourselves with bread before we headed off our adventures every morning.

Now in my late thirties, I am married with 2 kids. I finally realized there is truth in what old mothers said: Money is not everything and can't buy everything, but a life without money definitely can't get you anything! If I had listened, and had chosen a husband with sound financial means, I would not feel guilty going to spa every week or splurging once in a while to pamper myself. I will definitely look more vibrant than the present me tired and sagged all the time. Forget about flowers on Valentine's or birthdays, my husband thinks these days are over-rated and a way for businessmen to cheat more innocent and nave hearts.

I had tea with 2 girlfriends of mine last week and they all looked gorgeous. Anna was a successful career woman and she dressed impeccably. Jane was dating her recently divorced boss and apparently enjoying all the pampering the old man has showered on her. When I looked at them: one was independent, and the other has a constant flow of cash to splurge, and me I had on me a dress I bought few years ago, my bag was outdated compared to their LV and Gucci, my shoes cost only ten bucks at the local department store, ooh I couldn't bear to continue this comparison.

As I stepped into my house feeling pretty low, my kids ran towards me as if I am the most attractive lady in their world, they kissed and hugged me, calling: Mommy, Mommy! You are back! They latched on me and didn't want to let go. My very boring husband came out from the kitchen with an apron tied to his waist, and asked: How's the get together? Dinner will be ready in an hour, can you get the kids washed up and ready? I look at these 3 people who are so dear to me and I think to myself: Of course I would not trade anything for them, they are the greatest achievement in my life. Thank you Lord!

A final note, I still have to complain and compare once in a while, please pardon me my God.

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