Mother’s Day Reflections: The Lessons That Stay With Us

Mother's Day Reflections: The Lessons That Stay With Us

As Mother's Day approaches, I see a lot of ads geared toward the occasion. Get your gift here, get your gift there. And I can't say I'm not guilty of that myself. After all, I'm a solopreneur trying to make my way, just like many others.

I've given myself about one to two years to build this into something sustainable before I start to worry if things don't gain traction. In quiet moments, that fear does creep in. The thought of not having something steady to fall back on can feel heavy. But when that happens, I find myself thinking about what I learned growing up, especially from my mom.

She was the one who taught me, early on, how to save, even in small ways.

I remember getting a monthly allowance in grade school. It felt like plenty until it wasn't. There were times I ran out before the month ended and had to ask for more. Instead, I was asked why I didn't have anything left. I still had days to go before the next allowance. I cried, of course, and thought it was unfair. But I had to wait. From then on, I learned how to stretch what I had.

Saving was also made fun for me. My mom signed me up for a "Little Twin Stars" savings account with Banco Filipino. At the time, they were very popular Sanrio characters. The passbook and the stamps you received with each deposit were something I genuinely looked forward to collecting. I didn't realize it then, but those small habits shaped how I think about money today.

I wouldn't say I'm particularly savvy when it comes to finance, but I've learned enough to be self-reliant to a degree. Even though this current venture feels uncertain at times, those early lessons give me a quiet confidence that I can navigate through it. That, in large part, is because of my mom, whether she realizes it or not.

Like any mother daughter relationship, we've had our share of disagreements and frustrations. But at the end of the day, we've always looked out for each other. I would also be remiss not to mention my long-time partner, Henry, who has been incredibly supportive of me, my mom, and our family. He deserves his own story another time. Today is about Mom.

The photo I've included here brings back so many memories. I remember hiding quietly in a corner, waiting for my mom to walk down the hall, and then jumping out to scare her. She would jump in surprise, scold me, and then we would both burst into laughter. I was always so proud of myself for pulling it off.

I also remember going with her to Divisoria, a bustling shopping district in the Philippines known for its bargains. She would go there to buy fabric. There was a time when she stepped away from teaching and learned how to sew so she could stay home with us. I was much younger than my siblings then. Those trips felt special. Sometimes she would buy me clothes, or we would share a small treat while we were out. Simple moments, but they have stayed with me.

One Mother's Day, when I didn't have money to buy a gift, I made her a watercolor painting. It was an ocean with mountains in the distance and a bright blue sky. I remember using paper from a dot matrix printer. It was not perfect, but it was what I could give.

I saw that painting again a few years ago, and for a while I thought I had misplaced it. But I recently found it again.

It reminds me that sometimes the most meaningful things we give are not bought. They are created, remembered, and shared.

A watercolor I made for my mom one Mother's Day

My mom, Rosalita, is now 91. She still gardens, crochets, works on word search puzzles, plays solitaire, watches NCIS reruns, and enjoys playing the slot machines whenever she gets the chance. She may not move as quickly as she once did, and her memory is not as sharp, but at 91, she is doing remarkably well.

There are not enough words to fully express how much I appreciate her. I do not always show it the way I would like to, but I try, in small ways, to reflect the care and love she has given me over the years. There are not enough flowers or pieces of art I could create to match what she has done for me.

Maybe this blog comes close, even just a little. I will probably have to print it out for her to read.

If you would like to receive more stories like this, along with the art and ideas that come from them, you are always welcome to join my monthly newsletter. It is a small space where I share what I have been creating and what has been inspiring me along the way.

How about you, what is one of your favorite mom stories?
If this brought something to mind, I would love to hear it in the comments.

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