Monday, November 13, 2006

That Momma's Boy

Sometimes we tend to forget the little things that matter.

And that's really sad actually. That specially prepared piping hot cup of cereal for breakfast. That warm cup of honey for that tickle in the throat. The umbrella set aside by the door for those rainy days. The porch lights left on when we're out late - with the frequent minatory reminders to return before curfew ( not that I ever had one ). Back when we were hormonally charged, self-absorbed teenagers - far too preoccupied with minor schooling disasters that seemed to grow in monstrous proportion before our naive eyes, we didn't notice all these caring little details that doting mothers seem to come by ( amazingly enough! ) naturally. No matter how much we quarrelled or fought, there was always this all-too-confident, almost cocksure sense that the cereal would still be there on the kitchen table in the morning.

Sure enough that sometimes we tend to take it almost for granted.

Breakfast man
That morning coffee

Only felt the loss quite acutely when I took my first baby steps out of the nest, moving out into my own place and living by myself. In their teenage years, most guys ( and girls too I'm sure ) tend to wish for that swinging, carefree bachelor pad away from their restrictive parents - and to be honest, so did I.

Well, after that first initial rush of pleasure ( at finally being supposedly financially independent and able to afford a place of my own ) has simmered down, that sense of loneliness starts to creep in. Seriously, watching drama serial reruns alone in the late evenings while I eat my cold dinner for one can get old real fast. Made me miss even the once-reviled notes that my mom used to leave for us detailing our various chores for the day. Leaving excessively long-winded messages for us on the kitchen table ( forcefully criss-crossed occasionally as she changed her mind, a woman's prerogative I hear ) has always been one of my mother's sweet, peculiar habits. :)

Been a while since I've lived with my parents - and only recently moved back so I haven't been seeing those notes in a quite a while. So for once, it surprised me to find one beside my coffee cup this morning before I left for work. No paying bills. No bringing the car to the workshop. Just a shred of Post-It and that familiar handwriting in black ink wishing me luck for my momentous week, and yet it left a smile on my face all day.

Yeah, I can be a sentimental sod sometimes. In that way, proud to say that I actually take after my mother :)

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

At least mum will be by your side whenever you need help, even though she nags & scolds...

Uncle once said tat i will no longer be a Mama's boy after going into the army.

But i am still a Mama's Boy now. ;)

Anonymous said...

no matter how grown up you are, we will always be a little boy to them.

thompsonboy said...

Oh, I do love my mama. She spoils me rotten and I know which heart strings to pull when I need or want something...I am a baaaad boy!

Anonymous said...

You've moved back home?

Where's Charming Calvin?

Anonymous said...

Awwww..... I agree with you.... I miss my mum when I'm studying away from home....

Anonymous said...

Yeah... I know. When I was doing my "time" in NS, it was a big change to be away from mom and the parents. Real lonely in a sense.

But now I'm wishing I got a place of my own again. Call it a give-take relationship, sometimes you want mom - sometimes you want your privacy too. =P

But anyway, you moved back to mom? What happened to your place in Puchong?

Anonymous said...

You are lucky to have such a great relationship with your mother. Not everyone does.

I'm with Maxius: You've moved back home?

Anonymous said...

I was watching my mom while we were having dinner just now. I begin to notice how old she has become.
Years of experience & hardship edged on her once youthful face.
The pair of hands that once carried me gently close to her bosom has become wrinkly & skinny.
The pair of legs that once lead me to school & guide me in my walk of life has become feeble & delicate.
The strong body that once carried me to the clinic when I was in high fever has become frail & petite.
I'm thankful she has good health and still able to do things she truly enjoys doing now. She can be a major pain sometimes but that’s just her way of caring. Thanks Paul for your entry has reminded me take a break from my hectic life and look at my mom 'clearly' today. Cheers

Anonymous said...

i must be the only deviant here then. right now, i'm just not too happy about being home again. i didn't really miss home that much when i was away, and now that i'm actually home, i just can't friggin wait to leave. gah.

Anonymous said...

That's a beautiful tribute to your mom. My own mom never went to school, but she is one of the kindest people I know, and that is one of life's most important lessons too few score well in.

daniel henry said...

my mom. forgotten my name the other day. and she could laugh about it. after naming me with such a LONG name... she could forget what my name was... she literally told the person on the line... ops i forgetten my son's full name...

Anonymous said...

Now you made me homesick. Sigh... Miss my mom lots!

Anonymous said...

Why are you not eating [with] your other half? :-)

ZEYN, THE PERPETUAL STRANGER said...

taking care of our moms, aren't we all, paul?

Annie said...

So what does Mom say when Calvin sleeps over? I'm with Sue and Maxius.. when the heck did you move back in? Where's all your stuff! in storage? in the backseat of your car!!! SPEAK!

Anonymous said...

I too live with my mum. Sometimes I wish I had more time to myself. But our parents are only around for a limited time (very aware of this since the passing of my dad). We get on each other's nerves at times, but I get sad when she's angry at me or when I get angry at her. Nothing's perfect all the time, makes the happy moments all the happier.

Anonymous said...

aw paul...

now u made me feel bad for not callin' my ma

:/

Anonymous said...

aw paul...

now u made me feel bad for not callin' my ma

:/

savante said...

What's that army bit again, dave?

Irritating sometimes, anon... but it's so nice to be a boy again :)

We all know you are, thompsonboy :)

Calvin's in his own place.. haven't moved in with him yet :) And my mom moved in with me.. sort of. Long story, maxius.

Oh, alex :)

You went to NS, sam?!

True enough. Thank God I have a pretty cool mom, sue.

Glad you noticed, jl. Go cheer her then.

Takes a while to miss home, quicksilver. I felt the same years back.

Thanks, cliff.

Forgot your name? You must have a freakishly long name, danielhenry.

Why live so far far away, mark!

Will do so on Thursday, eastwest.

Yeah, I am, shah.

My things are in my house, anniieieie...

Life's never perfect, william. But we love it all the same :)

Go call your mama, ethan!

Paul

nyonyapenang said...

awww.....you got a real sweet momma. writing you notes and all. i'm good at that too. am sure you love your momma to bits. :)

Anonymous said...

Yes, I was in NS. LOL! =P

And it rawked. HARD.

(don't get ideas)

Anonymous said...

Ah well, she was probably hunting for an excuse to make your bachelor pad more presentable to the women she's lining up for you.

Wait until you find one seated at the dinner table when you get home...

Mwahahaha!