The best memory with mom

Good morning fellow stemians sharing Beautiful moments with my mom

My Best Memory With My Mom? I Can't Even Pick One!

When people talk about having one best memory with their mom, I just look at them and wonder how they manage to pick only one. Because for me, I’ve got too many, and each one is special in its own way. My mom isn’t just my mother, she’s my gist partner, my clown, my disciplinarian, my soft landing, and everything in between

Let me take you on a small trip down memory lane.

I still remember the day I resumed boarding school in JSS1. That day is something I can’t forget. As a small girl, leaving home for the first time was scary. I was quiet all through the ride to school, and when we reached the hostel and my things were offloaded, I just stood there like a lost puppy. My chest was tight, and tears were forming in my eyes, but I was trying to act strong. Then Mom noticed it and hugged me tightly. She looked at me and asked, "Do you want to come back home with us?" I nodded fast like say na food dem offer me. She smiled and said, "No o, you have to be great, and to be great, you need to study." That moment, I realized that she believed in me more than I believed in myself.

Another memory that still makes me laugh till today was the time I checked my JAMB result. After checking, I went to show her and she just looked at me with one kind eye and said, "You no try at all." I felt somehow, like I failed her. But later that day, I overheard her talking to someone on the phone. She said, “My daughter wrote JAMB, she tried o, I'm proud of her.” I was confused. Was it not this same woman that said I didn’t do well? I confronted her and she just laughed and said, “Proud of you keh? You wey get coconut head?” We both burst out laughing. That’s how she is tough love, with a soft heart.

Let me not even start with the singing part. My mom can sing! Especially old songs that I don’t even know where she gets them from also she is a good dancer. She would start singing and I’ll just join her with dance moves, sometimes looking like I’ve lost my mind. She would bring out her phone and record me, laughing all through. But when we sit down later to watch the video, she’ll be like, “Is this how you dance? Na wa for you o.” The comment go pain me small, like I go wan vex, but before I even frown finish, she’ll say something else that will make me burst out laughing. That’s how she is—she has a way of making you feel all kinds of emotions at once.

Eating time at home is another memory on its own. No matter how small the food is, Mom will make sure everyone eats and is full. She’s that kind of mother that will say, “I’m not hungry,” but you’ll later catch her in the kitchen drinking garri after everyone has eaten. I remember one night we had just little soup left, and she made it stretch somehow so that all of us could eat. After we were done, I asked if she had eaten and she said yes, but I noticed she hadn’t. That day taught me what sacrifice truly means.

Then those moments where she would say, "This is my last card o," and give me the money. Then few days later, she’d bring out another one again. When I ask her how she got it, she’ll say, “Na the last one na.” I just dey look her. Last card wey never finish. That woman get magic hand, I swear.

And every time I ask her for money, she’d first say, “Should I go and steal for you?” Then five minutes later, I’ll see alert or cash in my hand. She doesn’t have to, but she does it anyway. She can complain from morning till night, but she’ll still do it. That’s how you know it’s love real love.

Sometimes, it’s not even the big moments that stay with you. It’s the small, everyday things. Like the way she calls my name when I’m doing something wrong, dragging it like music. Or the way she prays out loud early in the morning, waking everybody up whether you like it or not, you're part of the prayer session. Or how she will help me pack my things when I’m traveling but still complain the whole time, like, “You won’t kill me with wahala o.”

One time, I was sick, and even though she had work and her own stress, she sat by me all night, pressing my head, checking my temperature, and praying under her breath. It’s in those quiet moments that you realize just how deep a mother’s love runs.

Sometimes I think to myself, what did I do to deserve someone like her? She’s not perfect, and we’ve had our quarrels plenty, in fact. But even when we fight, I know deep down that her heart is pure. She may call me “coconut head” one minute, but the next minute she’s defending me like her life depends on it.

If I start listing all my beautiful memories with her, this post won’t end. From her dragging me to church, to the way she’ll pet me with food after shouting at me, to how she calls me randomly just to say “I miss you” even when we fought the day before my mom is one of a kind.

So when people ask me, “What’s your best memory with your mom?” I just smile and say, “I can’t pick one.” Because every moment with her is a memory on its own. She’s my mother, my friend, my gist partner, my number-one cheerleader, and sometimes my number-one troublemaker.

I don’t know what the future holds, but one thing I know for sure is that as long as I have her, I have a reason to laugh, to be strong, and to keep pushing.

I love you, Mama. Even though you say I have coconut head, I know I’m your coconut and you won’t trade me for anything.