A mother's wishful thinking

(Originally posted on June 13, 2012.)

A mother’s wish

I hope you smile and laugh each day,
And your sense of wonder never fades.
I hope God guides you from above 
And your heart is filled with joy and love,
I hope and pray you grow to be old;
And all your dreams and wishes unfold.
It’s my wishful thinking, I suppose —
That you’re happy and healthy as you grow.

I vow to keep you safe and sound,
And not let others pull you down.
I vow to help you learn from your mistakes,
And leave this world a better place.
I vow to listen when you’re sad or mad,
And love you to the moon and back
It’s a mother’s wish, I suppose —
That you’re happy and healthy as you grow.

The day will come when you’re all grown 
You’ll leave home and be on your own 
When you want advice on what to do, 
Remember my mother’s wish to you

I wish the world is more than it seems,
And peace is not an impossible dream.
I wish all children love their self-worth,
And we care for each other on earth.
I wish that greed is something we ignore;
It’s better to help each other more.
It’s a mother’s wish, I know —
That you’re happy and healthy as you grow.
— Mimi Hoang Kuehn

While my dad is my hero, my mom is my idol. She has always been an inspiration to me and that inspiration has crossed over to how I strive to parent my own children. No matter how hard I will ever try, I can never reach the same level of sacrifice that my mom has shown. 

My mom's only wish in life was for her children to be happy and healthy at all costs. She and my dad risked their lives and gave up all that they had known to escape from Vietnam in order for me and my siblings to have a better life in America. Their selflessness extended to how they raised us, including our humble beginnings in the US as a homeless family living in the church that sponsored us. I remember my parents  working tirelessly – my mom would hold multiple jobs as a restaurant kitchen staffer, babysitter, and factory worker whereas in Vietnam she was a teacher and lived an upper middle-class life prior to the war. 

First and foremost, I can't imagine being pregnant and also having to protect and care for four other young kids during the Vietnam War. I idolize that mom. Life was hard on the Vietnamese civilians, especially those with kids, because of the daily bombings and daily fixtures of soldiers manning the streets. That mom protected her family during a civil war. Imagine trying to make ends meet as a mom while the government was embarking on a mass campaign of collectivization of farms and factories. The war resulted in an economic collapse, causing millions of people, many of whom had children, to flee the country in crudely built boats. While helping her family escape from a country that she now fears, that mom comforted her children and set her own fears aside.

I idolize that mom – my mom. My mom is a protector, a survivor, a provider, and a comforter. I am a mother of three and struggling (umm, I mean balancing) to put my kids first while also working, and I am in awe of how my mom did it with five children! If anyone figured how to clone themselves, I think my mom did. I remember my mom always being there for me and my siblings. Growing up we had little money. Shopping for clothes and household items at Goodwilll was a treat and a field trip that my siblings and I looked forward to with her. I marveled at how she was able to bargain down prices. I have fond memories of my mom or my dad, and often both, would make it to my basketball games, marching band practices, cheerleading events, and Cross Country and Track meets. It's easy to see why mom is my idol. During my childhood, my parents made sure that one of them was always home and there for us, including supporting us with school and our activities, and encouraging our interests.

As an adult, I continue to appreciate and listen to my mom. She is my inner voice when making decisions. When I want to hear her voice, she is just a phone call away. My mom is my role model as I strive to make my own voice in this world. Thank you, Mom!

How has your mom inspired you? I would love to hear!