Titoki, how come you are not like me?

My mom has always complained, "Ah girl ar, I don't know who you resemble. You don't act, talk, and think like me and daddy at all. You are our daughter, but you are so totally unlike us."

And I'll reply her matter-of-factly, "Mama, I may look like you, walk like you, and even fart like you. But I'm totally different from you. I'm made up of half of your genes and daddy's genes. And in each of the half-genes-make-up portion you and daddy gave me, half of it comes from grandma, and the other half comes from grandpa. See? I'm so complex liddat how can I be like YOU only?" *evil grin*

She will go all silent.

I cannot remember how many gawdzillion times my mom had protested that I don't behave like her AT ALL although I'm her daughter. In her mind, by right and by law, I should be exactly like her in everything. Just because I'm her own flesh and blood.

But what she doesn't understand is that, even though she carried me for 9 months and 10 days and gave birth to me, as an independent Homo Sapien, I have my own mind, body, and brain.

Because of that, a lot of the times, we hurled hurtful words at each other to get what we want or expect from each other. But what we didn't realize is the fact that the pot is calling the kettle black, we are both as stubborn + difficult as each other. Like mother, like daughter. That's why we clashed like Juniper hitting Sapturn. We are actually very much alike than what we had assumed otherwise. Thus, the more we deviate, the more we converge. As the saying goes, the opposite attracts. LOL!

When I was growing up, my mom will tell her friends and relatives, "I'm going to do this and that for my mother (my grandma) now for my daughter (me) to see, so that the next time when she grows up, she'll do the same thing too for me."

That's my mom's expectation of me. I don't want to go into the details. But can you imagine the invisible pressure and burden on my shoulders since I was a little girl?

All I can say is that I have been put into the mindset to excel in life and perform my duties as a filial daughter since the day I was born. That is her way of teaching an obstinate child like me to appreciate the people, and the good and the bad in our lives.

And surprise, surprise, majiam fate has its way with destiny liddat, I'm living up slowly but surely to my mom's expectation as the obedient daughter she yearned me to become.

Have I turn mellow? Nope.

Have I have grown more mature and responsible? Nah, I don't think so.

Then why am I becoming sooo like my mother, in one way or another?

Must be the genes. *Hehe* Just kidding!

Well, I guess I have experienced life, just like how my mom had experienced hers. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel like the one she saw, and hear the tune of 'Que Sera Sera, What Will Be Will Be' like the one she heard. Just like what an old wise sifu will warn his protégé, "I have eaten more salt than you eat rice." And the master is forever right, so is mom. *winks*

This coming weekend, I'm bringing my mom out for dinner to celebrate Mother's Day with her. Just like how she will never fail to bring grandma out for Mother's Day dinner every year when grandma was still around – Though I hate to admit it, as it happens, I'm very much like my mom in many ways. I'm not married nor do I have any children. I'm not doing this because I feel obligated or I want people to follow my footsteps. I'm doing this for the simplest reason that she is my mother...

She who provides me with a good education for a better life, nurtures me to become a better citizen of the world, nurses me back to health when I am sick, cooks me meals when I feel hungry, guides me when I am lost, and she who accepts me back again and again when I'd gone astray.

But what have I done for you, my dear mother? I can never say "Thank You" enough!