Little Pixy Boots on Shop: Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day in Singapore! I almost feel ashamed that I almost never shopped anything for my mum this day, except bring her to a restaurant or make a homemade card for her. This year, I cooked a breakfast of mushroom-cheese omelette for her with a side of toast, salad sprouts and cherry tomatoes.

For some, red carnations means Mother's day

As you can clearly see, I have a hidden agenda to convert my meat-devoted mum to a healthy vegetarian diet. I apologise that I'm not a food blogger so I didn't take a picture of the omelette I made... but I think my parents appreciate that I can cook and don't do an indecent job of it :p

One thing I want to examine within myself today is whether one truly needs to shop for a gift in order to be "sincere" in congratulating or showing love to loved ones. I have always been feeling slightly guilty that ever since young, I've felt that the one (and sometimes only) thing I could do when it comes to friends' or family's birthdays, was to make home-made cards or presents. That's because over the years, my income has been unstable due to freelancing, and when I was younger, I was ingrained with a thrifty mentality because my pocket-money was quite small.

My friends and family have all expressed much gratitude over the years about the beautiful home-made cards I've made, even though a lot of them are made from recycled material. I told them it's because I can't afford to buy expensive presents, so the only way I can show love and well-wishes, is to give up my time to make cards and express how I feel.

And since this is Mother's Day, maybe I can show you what I made for my Mum's birthday last year (the ones made in my childhood are slightly too kiddish).

A hug for my mum

I was in Norway then so I think my mum was really touched to have received this card from me. Actually looking at this, I think I still draw in a rather kiddish manner, albeit a more skillful way. I don't make apologies for it - I just like this style.

When I was in England with my favourite friend, Hobbit, I adopted his mum to be my mum because she is so generous at heart and such a well-bred lady in true British upper-class manner. So I drew her a really simple card for her birthday:

The Mother Figure

Even though I'm not a little girl, and neither is she a mermaid (check out the legs), I thought that us walking hand in hand towards a sunset was nice.

There were other times when I feel so much appreciation for my team members at volunteer work or friends that I make a range of cards. I like to think they prefer cards to chocolates. Just a highlight:

Holiday in Norway

This card is called "Holiday in Norway", because I was having a holiday in Norway then. Duh. Very creative, pixy. Drew a bit of the grass and the sky around :)

But the card I was most proud of, but least appreciated (or so I heard), is this one:

"Dream"

I had spent a lot of effort on this card, cutting up bits and bobs from my old photographs, digging up leaves I collected from my travels, buying feathers and embellishments and making sure the paper is shaded to a nice aged maroon colour. I had to pass to the intended receiver via the family secretary. Guess what happened when I had the chance to ask him afterwards if he has seen it?

He gave me a puzzled look and said he has had a pile of cards and presents from well-wishers and he hasn't opened them all, so apparently his housekeeper must have cleared them up for him - which means he has probably not and never will, see this card.

Ah well.... the heartache of giving and not having the gift received.

I do wonder how people can in their ignorance, treat other's love and well-wishes lightly. Perhaps they are just not very appreciative.

Sometimes I wonder if the act of giving has become commercialised and "stereotyped" by the media and society around us. For example, is it a life-and-death matter for a female to receive a diamond ring for her engagement or wedding (I would like a carat, thank you)?

I for one, haven't received any diamond ring from my husband just yet. What I'm wearing now is a rather inexpensive ring, but I know very well without the diamonds that prevailing culture demands, that he loves me very very much. A cold stone of the hardest substance on earth, isn't going to represent the depth of his heart.

To me, every trial we go through, every kiss, every hug, and every ounce of respect and equality he gives me, is a diamond in itself. Because I know, that in so many societies and cultures in the world, women don't get the respect that they deserve, nor do they get equality, including Singapore.

the ring that is not made of the hardest substance in the world

So yes, I don't have a diamond on my finger, but I think I am the richest woman in the world.

I've come to realise that in the act of giving, whether it be a home-made card or a diamond ring, the most important factor is that the gratitude/love expressed was received.

So remember, you don't need an expensive present to show your appreciation for your mum. Give your mummy a nice big hug today (and tell her you love her)!

Hugs are immediately appreciated, methinks :)

Happy Mother's Day!

xoxo

pixy

P.S. I'm back in Singapore (just in time to participate in the exciting elections 2011!) and will be going home in a week...my Norwegian home with spring flowers! Oooooo... I do get a little frustrated sometimes when I've been in Norway 3 times for spring and missed the cherry blossoms in my garden there. I am praying that the flowers would wait for me to come back!