Mum

Mom

It was a Saturday morning.
I woke up pretty early that day, wondering what the day would seem like. I had nothing planned for that day. So I made my bed, took a cold shower and had a cup of coffee. Then my little sister woke up and we talked about starting a diet together. Lately we had been eating unhealthy and not working out. We talked about going to the gym. As we were talking, my mom came to us and asked if we wanted to help an old woman to clean. We agreed.

After a couple of hours, we changed our clothes and walked to the old woman's house. She lives on the same street, just a couple of houses away from us. We went in and the old woman was sitting on her couch, alone, which wasn't a surprise for us. This because we know that her husband died a long time ago. We greeted her and she was so happy to see us. We talked about ourselves and she then asked me to come closer. I was kind of scared at that moment because I didn't know why she wanted me to. She then rolled up her old woman's dress. I had no idea why she did that but then I saw something..... and I was shocked!

My hands automatically covered my mouth. I couldn't believe my eyes. Her thighs were dark blue, almost black. She was extremely bleeding from the inside. I asked her what had happened and she told me that she recently did a surgery. Something that has to deal with her heart. The doctors told her that she would be fine after, but what I saw was just not. I asked if she was feeling any pain and she said she can't even feel her legs. She can't even stand or shower herself. I felt really helpless standing there. The words in my head just started to disappear. I didn't Know what to say. We asked her if we could help her in anyway with anything. She said that she just wanted her house to be clean. So we said to her that we were willing to help. We asked her to just sit down and relax, cuz we knew she was in pain. She thanked us and said that she appreciated our help. We said nothing but smiled at her.

My little sister and I took a look at her house and wowww... It was a real mess!!! Everything was just so dirty, clothes were everywhere, medicines on the floor, food left open and so much dishes!! We split the work that needed to be done. My little sister went to the kitchen and I started cleaning her room.

There was a big bed on the left side of her room and a table right next to it. Her clothes were on a chair, some of them were falling on the ground. There was toiletpaper everywhere, food on her bed and medicines all over her pillow. I reached for a broom and a towel. As I was cleaning the table, I saw some trophies and some photos. I took a closer look and I saw a photo of the old woman and her family. Right next to it there were two others. Her children have really grown big and they now have their own life and their own families. She has 3 Children. 2 of them are teachers and the other works at an office. Sadly, only one of them lives with her. He is a principle of a famous school in Suriname. He does look old in that photo though. His wife lives right next to him and they have 2 children. A boy and a girl. Both are grown people now.

But then I realized something...
If she has 3 Children, why are they not taking care of her? Not even one of them, like seriously your mom just had a surgery with no one by her side!?!?? My heart just dropped at that moment. How fuvkin 'heartless' are they? I walked to the woman and asked if her children knew about her surgery. She said 'yes, we've talked on the phone. Actually we do, everyday.' I looked at her in the eyes and tears started coming out. My heart was bleeding. Poor woman. I would never do that to my mom, never, ever! I hugged her tightly and told her that she doesn't deserve this. She looked at me in the eyes and told me to 'not worry' about her. Her son had work to do and he went to an important meeting. 'Go and finish cleaning' she said.' I wiped my tears off and went back into her room. I took another look at her children. They forgot about their mom. The one who made them. The one who raised them. I told myself to not think too much and started cleaning. But my mind couldn't help but think.

I made her bed, opened the windows, took the broom and started cleaning. Her room is really big, but it would be done soon. Not long after, when I was done with her room, a guy came in and started 'laughing' at me when he saw me with the broom. He asked the old woman if she has found a new maid and she replied and said 'yes, I found someone to help me because you don't want to help.' The guy was her grandson. He looked away and went straight inside. I couldn't believe what just happened. 'How heartless.' He really just came in and laughed at what I was doing? I was helping his grandma, unlike him who came in and straight went to his room without even asking her how she's doing.
Told myself to just keep cleaning.

After my little sister and I were done cleaning, her son, the one who lives with her, came home from a meeting and greeted us. We greeted back. He seemed to be tired and he was sweating. He noticed that we cleaned the house. He went to the kitchen and brought a glass of orange juice for me and my little sister. We thanked him and drunk it all up. He told us to wash our glasses. So did we. We then went outside, where the old woman was sitting and told her that we did our best to clean everything up. She took a look and thanked us for helping her because she wouldn't be able to do everything herself. She then reached for her wallet and took a srd10 bill out. She reached it to me and said that I could buy a bottle of coke later and share it with my little sister. I denied it and held her hand. I said 'we came here and we are willing to help u grandma,' u can call me anytime if u need help with anything.' She smiled at us, not knowing what to say. She called her son and asked him to bring us a bottle of chocolate milk. We happily took the bottle and accepted it as a gift from her. We finally greeted her and went home.

We were home. I went to my mom and hugged her. I told her everything and I know she also felt it. I held my mom's hand and I said: 'mom, no matter how old I get, I will always take care of u. At worst and happy days, I will always respect u. Without u I wouldn't be here today. U're the one who made me and it's my job to take care of u. I may have friends who I spend my days with, or hobbies I always keep myself busy with, but nothing else will take my love and respect away from u. U have a special place in my heart and no one will ever be able to replace that. I love u mom.' My mom then smiled at me, hugged me and said 'i love you too!'

Today, I'm sitting here, writing this and thinking back at that moment when I realized that I helped someone. Not a big thing, but the situation made me realize that we children often forget about our parents. We keep ourselves bussy with so many things and we hardly spend time with them. Remember when you were younger? When you were craving your mom's love and attention? Do you still? No, because you're now older and have your own life. But your mom did too. She had work to do too. She had things to take care of, but you were the most important thing she did take care of. She gave you all the love you needed, spent time with you, made you breakfast, lunch, dinner, your bed, washed your clothes, listened to your jokes and supported you. She was the one always worrying about you all day, every day. The one who always believed in you, even if you didn't. She still does now. But it's you that distance yourself without even realizing it.

So even if it's 3am in the morning right now, i want you to tell your mom that you love her. I want you to thank her for everything she did for u. I want you to tell her that you respect her and will take care of her for the rest of her life.

Time will pass, but memories will stay. You don't want to grow old and think back at the younger you who didn't tell your mom how much you love her.

Nothing in this world is stronger than the love of a mother.

I. L O V E. Y O U. M U M ! ♥️