ADJECTIVES: Oh My Nanay

Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.  ~Pearl S. Buck

My Nanay truly belongs to the “most mothers category” mentioned in the quote. She kissed and kicked and kissed back. She could be your ‘best friend or your worst enemy,’ a cliché that exactly describes our relationship. When she loves, she drains herself to the last drop. When she gets mad at you, you better apparate immediately or cast upon yourself a disillusionment charm or don Potter’s invisibility cloak or hide inside the room of requirement (whatever way it is, just don’t show yourself). But once she calms down, she’ll try to make up to you – you will get extra baon, extra rice, extra hour of play or tv, or she’ll cook your favorite food (in case you’re curious, mine is sinigang and tocino, sawap!). She had always tried hard not to show that she is making “bawi,” but since it had happened many times, we already knew.

Nanay may seem eccentric, since she easily loses composure when angry. But I understand her, because I know that she had been through a lot. More than the hardships she had as a middle child, she had also lost a son (my youngest baby brother) which led to a nervous breakdown. Nanay always tells us (during her daily morning sermons) that what pushed her to wake up from her catatonic state was when she realized she had three other kids. Even in her trance-like form, she feared for me since I was the only girl (her overprotectiveness over me is an understatement). Nanay’s wound may have healed but the pain changed her.

The death of our brother left us all broken and shattered; it left a hole in our hearts which took years to heal and even left a mark so deep. It was a very painful loss, one that is hard to accept, because my mother is ligated, and she will never bear kids again. Our family needed therapy, which we found in the form of taking care of other people’s kid. From Nanay, I learned one of the greatest lessons in life – that I am capable of loving another person who is of no relation to us – with a love that is equal to how I feel towards my siblings and even my parents. And I love my mother more for that.

Today is her birthday, and this post is my little tribute to her, along with this humble yet amusing verse.

(Our lesson today is about words that describe nouns or pronouns. They are called adjectives. Now, pick out all the adjectives from the poem and write them in your notebook. Hurry up!)