Growing up, I thought my mother was simply being strict.
She would remind me to greet people properly, clean up after myself, respect older people, and never leave the house looking untidy. At that age, I didn't understand why those little things mattered so much. Sometimes, I even wished she would stop repeating herself.
Now that I'm older and living away from home because of school, I finally understand.
No one reminds me to wake up early.
No one tells me to organize my room.
No one asks if I've eaten before leaving for lectures.
Yet I still find myself doing many of those things automatically.
That's when I realized that my mother wasn't just teaching me rules—she was shaping my character.
Some of the habits I have today were formed long before I appreciated them.
Whenever I help someone without expecting anything in return, I remember watching my mother do the same.
Whenever I remain polite even when someone is rude to me, I remember her telling me that respect says more about my character than the other person's behavior.
As children, we don't always notice the sacrifices our mothers make. We often focus on the moments they corrected us instead of the countless things they quietly did to make our lives better.
Looking back now, I understand that many of those corrections came from love, not control.
I still call my mum from school, and every conversation somehow ends the same way.
"Have you eaten?"
No matter how old I become, I don't think that question will ever change.
And honestly...
I hope it never does.
To every mother who worries, prays, corrects, encourages, and loves without expecting recognition, thank you.
Many of the lessons you teach today may not be appreciated immediately, but one day your children will look back and realize that those "little things" helped make them who they are.
Happy motherhood to every amazing mum out there. ❤️
