Every time I give my children something, I choose the newest, freshest, and tastiest thing to give. On the contrary, mothers often receive used items from their children as a way to save money.
My mother-in-law lives alone in the countryside. My father passed away when my husband was in twelfth grade. At that time, my mother’s family was very poor, but to fulfill her father’s wishes, she stayed home to raise her four children to receive a good education. Sister Hai and my husband are teachers. Mr. Ba and Mr. Ut are engineers. Neighbors both love and respect him. My children are all talented and live honestly. Children grow up, get married and have their own lives. Mom still lives alone in the countryside in a small house.
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| Photo for illustration purposes only – Internet |
What’s fun about mother’s life? Every day, my mother went to the field – there was my father’s grave there. Mother pulled weeds, planted trees, planted flowers and talked to her partner who had not yet lived a hundred years. Mom has a few close friends who walk together every morning. Whenever I miss my children and grandchildren, I take a motorbike taxi to the city or buy a bus ticket to visit Saigon, stay at each child’s house for a few days and then return to the small house.
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Every year, there are a few holidays or Tet holidays when we retreat to our hometown as a safe haven. So my mother’s family is happier. The small house was bustling with children’s voices. Mom kept busy shopping and cooking.
The needs of children living in urban areas are quite many. Mom is also more tired. Mother’s morning is corn and potatoes. Mother’s beverage is fresh coconut and a cup of tea. Mom’s meal is white rice and braised fish with some garden vegetables. The children came home wanting to eat and drink so many things.
We realized that my mother was still living a poor, simple life. Out there, life is dynamic and increasingly modern; But here, in my mother’s little house, everything slows down. The tree table in the middle of the house, the worm-eaten cupboard, the row of rainwater jars, the firewood shelf behind the house. In the morning, in the afternoon, the smoke from the kitchen is dim.
For 2 years now, my mother has had a mini refrigerator in the house. Honestly, this is my husband and I’s refrigerator. When we bought a new refrigerator, we brought it home to our mother. This seems to be a common habit. Every time I give my children something, I choose the newest, freshest, and tastiest thing to give. On the contrary, mothers often receive used items from their children as a way to save money. Everything was bought with money, and if I let it go, my mother regrets it.
The trip back to my mother’s house during Tet is longer. The mini refrigerator cannot handle the needs of so many people. We thought about changing the refrigerator for mom. Mom slowly said: “Okay, bring the old one back. Let’s use the new one at home.”
I looked at my husband and we both seemed to read each other’s feelings – the feeling of guilt. In fact, buying a new refrigerator is more about thinking about our needs than thinking about our mother’s. We suddenly realized how bad we were.
Life is sometimes paradoxical like that – poor people are more prosperous than rich people. Every time rich people and city people give things to poor people, it’s usually clothes or other items they’ve used. When they no longer need them, they buy new ones and send the old ones to the poor. This is happening in our house, the way we treat our mother. My husband said nothing, quietly walked towards the river wharf, where the small boat was moored and was also the way my mother went to the fields every day.
Not long after, a new refrigerator was delivered to my mother’s house. The mother was visibly happy, boasting to her close friends about her children’s kindness and filial piety.
Buying a new refrigerator for my mother is not really a big experience, but it seems my husband and I have learned a lesson in life. Kindness also needs equality. Giving is not equal to giving. Giving others what we feel is best is truly precious.
Hoang Song
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