Mothers say the darnest things
I don't have many problems during my monthly blues anymore (at least, not the previous hormonal issues that used to cause that caustic curse spouting seasons of the months). First it's great to have an understanding fiance in Eric (the poor boy suffers badly when I'm upset), and then its also because of a whole set of traditional prescriptives that my mom has taken to religiously preparing everything she finds out I'm bleeding.
'Your period over kah?'
'Err… few more days I think.'
'OK I cook pak zham for you, then after that I make some red date soup ok? You must drink ok?'
The problem is pak zham is blue and tastes awful, and instead of how some people take it (for only one day or so), my mom requires that I take it for 3-5 days in row, and everytime she boils it it seems to get thicker. So I was telling her, 'Eh not so thick can ah? Tastes awful you know..'
And my mom said, 'The thicker the better you need it for nourishment.'
'Don't over nourish lah.'
'You're getting married. You need it for the strength. Look at Eric, he's so hardworking at working out, so he must have a lot of strength. You must match his strength.'
'OK… let's not get there…' I go.
'What you mean don't get there? This kind of things must talk one. You must be nourished lah, since you work so late every day, imagine next time when you're staying together, and Eric comes home with needs, and you're tired, how?'
…
So you see, in my case, I've got a mother who's really a little more 'well-read' than others, and in many ways I'm not sure whether its a blessing or a curse. With mother's day around the corner… it becomes extra hard to think of what to get for her (she's always one step ahead of me. Mum hates perfumes, so its out. Flowers, she say, die too early, so those are out too. Coffrets are definitely not her type. Holiday gift baskets used to get her attention, like those fruit baskets they wrap up prettily during Raya or Christimas, but these days any type of gifts packed in a basket just get her frowning.
And then I tried the angpau - method, but I can't afford to put too much into the red packet (otherwise she'll think I'm earning too much and then ask for more each month. I can't cook (not by her standards anyway), and even if I bought jewellery, she wouldn't wear them (you've got weird taste, girl).
So right now. I'm kinda lost as to what to get her. And knowing that mom will probably have something smart to say to my actions anyway, just makes me worried.
April 16th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
OMG!!! That’s just TOTALLY HILARIOUS!
Made me laugh out loud!
April 16th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
LOL! Your mama is cute
Reminds me of my mama too 
April 16th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
“imagine next time when you’re staying together, and Eric comes home with needs, and you’re tired, how?” …. drink Pak Zham la
I had an auntie who stays next to my apartment, she makes these smelly soup and gave me some. The characteristic was like you mentioned, but thick and blue. Oh well, cincai minum je la..
April 16th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
very good conversation indeed…
April 16th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
run, sial!
April 16th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
your mom is damm cute lah !! lolzz…
April 16th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
i really LOL…your mom is so cool! my mom will never talk to me about “that”.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
awww…. now i’m overseas, i miss my mum pak zham sup!
worst, when i drag the guai lo bf back to malaysia, and my mum served me the awful, foul tasting soup… he goes…
your mum is trying to poison you is it??
hilarious!!
April 16th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
LOL!!! This is hilarious..
April 17th, 2008 at 3:54 am
Gurl, in the first place, how the heck did your pak zhan turn blue? It usually turns out black for me!!!! (And it’s awfully yummy too!) What peeps do to help with the taste is boil it with eggs or chicken.
And…oh, as for needs, well, trust me, there is ALWAYS an excuse! ROFL!!!!
April 17th, 2008 at 10:35 am
It was hard for me to break my pregnancy news to my mom because it felt like I’m telling her “Mom, I had sex!”
April 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
i agree-i was pregnant after three years of marriage and i was so embarassed to tell my mom,luckily hubby broke the news for me.