想当年：妈妈 Reminiscence: Mum

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My mum would sleep using the Glucolin tin as her pillow as what Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's maternal grandmother would, using a round cigarette tin. Owning 'A Doctor In The House' resemble a 'teacher in my home'. This 'teacher' reminds me not to forget about the past values imbued by the elders.

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My mum told me that with her sisters, they could only take their meal in the kitchen area after the men had taken them in the dining hall. It is hard to believe as a young boy who was still learning how to walk properly. When mum shared her meal experience with me, she also shared cooking interest at the same time. I climbed up a huge water vase near the stove to see what she was cooking but fell into it where four haruan fishes were kept. That incident did not deter me to continue to get close to the stove but instead taught me not to be careless in the kitchen. In fact, kitchen is a place where only the skilled and experienced could prepare a good dish timely and at the same time delivering great care on the utensils.

As mum noted my interest in cooking, she became my chef and plenty of cooking recipes were imparted by her. She once said, "If your cook is on holiday, you can cook !"

Some of the dishes she taught me has now become well-known distinctive home-style cuisines such as Fried Crab, Squids with Sweet Sauce, Boiled Chicken with Sauce, Nyonya Curry Chicken, Steamed Fish, ... ... ... . Mum is afraid her child is hungry. Food is basic. Mum knows that food has to be always cheap and easily available.

Next to cooking, mum taught me how to hand sew a button to a shirt and a trouser. She prepares me to abide by proper dressing and to be presentable to people. She indoctrinated her child to dress neatly so that the image of the surrounding people is preserved at all times. The button revealed a wide picture for etiquette and courtesy.

How to wash clothing without a washing machine is a skill loosing popularity these days as it is laborious. Mum would teach how to make sure the white shirt remain white and she remembered to check that her child has taken the proper washing method.

After the hot sun dry, the clothes are to be folded accordingly or otherwise invite mum to chide before they are put into the wardrobe. Mum taught about 5S at a time 5S was not in existence. She wanted her child wardrobe to be neat and in order so that picking the clothing for the day is easily decided. Outlook is basic. Mum knows that outlook has to be always simple and neat.

Home sweet home. Every mum looks forward to shelter the home sweetly although sometimes some failed. When the home is sweet, everyone carries a u-shaped lips. That means everyone do not forget to smile. A home is a the basic unit of a society and every unit counts as they add up as a nation.

A home is not just a 4-letters word but its width and its depth requires immense effort and patience which could be summarized as the science and art of home-making. A home deals not just about the house or how big is the house, but a home deals with the rearing of children, the feeding for the children, the clothing available to the children and the development of values good to the health and happiness in the family. To allow such formation, simple house has to be cheap and readily available.

A happy and prosperous nation start from a happy and prosperous home. Mum does it. Smile is basic. Mum knows that smile is the most powerful communication.

http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/2010/07/02/how-and-why-babies-smile/

We are just talking about basic food, shelter and clothing. Mums make them beautiful. Happy Mother's Day.

This post is dedicated to all mothers and in particular, to my mother.
(My mum, she passed away in 1988)

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by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli