The sweetest mother on planet earth.

In between Mother's day and my dear mama's upcoming birthday on Saturday, I would like to dedicate this blog entry to my mother. The main, the main Mama Mgbeke. (She would totally cringe if she discovered that I am going by such a bush name on the Internet...hehehe).

Growing up, I wasn't such a huge fan of my mother. I used to say that if my parents ever separated and I had to pick a parent, I would go with my father. I wasn't daddy's girl either...I would have just preferred my papa 'cos he was never home and therefore out of our business most of the time. In other words, I would have been free to flex and bubble with minimal interruption. Whereas, my mom was always home and always keeping a watchful eye over us so if we messed up, best believe that we were going to get yelled at/a dose of the koboko. LOL, in fact I am remembering one time when I got home at 6pm (past our curfew), and my mother had guests. Now you know when the 'rents have guests you kinda feel like you will get away with your transgression but I wish! As soon as the guests left, she came to my room and dragged me into the corridor and told me to kneel down while she went and finished her ever reliable koboko...chei!!!

Like most other African kids I bet, I used to wonder if I was adopted...with the amount of koboko and finishing that I used to chop from my mother. Maaaan she was such a feisty woman back then, which is pretty much hard to believe now when you observe her cool, calm and constantly collected demeanour.

Now, I am older. And with age, I have come to appreciate and love my dearest dearest mother.
I appreciate the little things like all the stockfish, maggi, dried fish, egusi, and other food stuff that she brings for me everytime she comes to visit, make I cook correct soup.
I appreciate how even after she don bring me foodstuff to cook soup, she never leaves my house without cooking at least 2 pots of my favorite soup because we all know that mama's cooking is the best!
I appreciate how she brings me milo, golden morn and peak milk without asking questions. LOL.
I appreciate how she always asks me 'So how far the guys, any better?' everytime we talk on the phone.
I appreciate how she whines about me not calling her enough and sometimes when I call her, and we clearly have nothing to say we sit on the phone and talk about the most random things for close to 1 hour.
I appreciate how she says that she is constantly praying for me in everything that I do, esp my going and coming because she is scared of the busy 1-95 freeway and all the 'crazies'.
I appreciate how even when she comes to visit and we go shopping, she still insists on paying for 1 or 2 of my items...ah! At my age ke? Anyway awoof dey run bele o so me I no dey complain. :-D
Too many appreciations to list maaan.
She truly is the BEST woman in the whole wide world and I pray that when I have my own kiddies, I may be as inspiring and strong as my mother has been.

And, about that adoption idea? Threw that out of the window a long time ago for when you see me and you see my mother, you will say 'Ah, you are truly your mother's daughter'. Growing up in PH, (which often times has a small town feel to it, in that every body knows everybody else) I would constantly go places and people would ask 'Are you Mrs X's daughter?'. I mean, a chick couldn't even do underG runs shaaaa. LOL. I am her spitting image and I'm cool with it, I look at her fabulous self and know that when I'm almost 60, I will look just as fine. Yaaaaay. :-D

However, apart from our similar physical features, I inherited a whole bunch of other characteristics/qualities from her. Some of which are:

• Unconsciously correcting/keeping an eye on peoples' spelling and grammatical errors. My mother is an English professor. Go figure...unfortunately, I didn't get the urge to shoot for a PhD.
• Being extra anal about cleanliness and organization. Growing up, my mother used to emphasize that we change and wash our bedsheets and towels ever other week, always make sure out kitchen and bathrooms are clean even if the rest of the house is messy and all that housekeeping stuff. I mean, this woman even used to make me wipe the dust off the plants in our verandah. Now, I definitely appreciate what she taught me even though some claim that I'm anal. Like mother, like daughter!
• An eye for a good bargain. My mother loves a good steal/bargain and that's certainly who I got it from.
• A good sense of style. My mother has a very good sense of style, she sabi baff up. Her daughters got that good sense of style from her, we certainly step out looking fly and make sure that we don't disgrace our family name. LOL
• Random bits and pieces of stuff i.e Always make sure that you serve guests with a tray or a coaster, fold napkins one way, make your bed this way, clean as you cook, send thank you-notes, when you go to people's houses for dinner always try and see how you can help out etc etc etc. Honestly, growing up I never appreciated any of this stuff but now I do. It has all come in pretty handy.
  

So, as dear mommy turns the big 58 on Saturday, I want to thank God for keeping her for 58 years. 58 years of achievements and success. 58 years of joy, celebrations and the pitfalls that she constantly overcomes which ultimately make her a stronger person every day. 58 years of patience...I mean, she has a couple of really stubborn people in her family (*Coughs*, me included). 58 years of love, peace, progress, beautiful family and children who love her very much. 58 years of being a blessing to others. I was just talking to my sis this evening and she said 'Isn't there something so comforting about talking to mama that just makes everything seem like it will be okay'. Preach it sis!

Happy birthday in advance mommy. I love you and I really mean it when I say that I wanna be like you when I grow up!