Sobana Rachael says her mother Mohanarani (Rose) has been a constant pillar of support in her life, helping her through some very difficult times in her life.
Rachael writes:
"Hi! my name is Rachael, I wanted to join this competition to tell everyone in the world that my mum is a very wonderful person.
"The commitment, love, care, concern and responsibilities she took on to raise my brother Alvis and I make her the most valuable person on Earth..
"I love my mum very much and I want her to be proud of her children, so I will do all my best to get selected to win this competition as the best mother’s day surprise.
"First, let me tell you the best things that she has done for me in my life until now. I can’t tell you every single thing because if I have to write all the memories down, that would be countless things.
"There is a Tamil saying that goes, when people are alive we don’t know their value and don’t care about them much, but once they are no more we remember their value and commitment they have done for us and regret.
"I don’t wish to be such a person, I will value and love my mum always and this is a surprise for her.
"The challenge she faced when she was pregnant.
"My family used to tell me that before I was born my mother had conceived twice but soon had to abort due to health reasons. My mother had several operations before and was not strong enough to have another baby.
"When I was in her womb, my mother was very worried about whether I would be born, because she suffered terrible stomach pains through the pregnancy.
"My relatives would scold her, asking why only you encounter such stomach pains when pregnant? We also have been pregnant before but we did not act like this!
"My mum went to the doctor several times but they couldn’t detect the problem. My mother was very upset. When she was nine months pregnant she was in severe pain again, and everyone brought her to the hospital thinking it was labour pain.
"My mum waited the whole day but I was not born yet. The pain lessened, and thinking it was just the usual pain she left for home.
"Ten minutes after they reached home, she had another bout of terrible pain , and everyone was very angry. My father rushed to the hospital again and then I was born. I was a premature baby and was KK Hospital’s smallest baby for the year 1994.
"Even after I was born, my mum had abdominal pains frequently and she went to the hospital where they did an X-ray and found that my mum’s intestines had become been tangled together.
"She had had this problem when I was her womb, and due to this problem I was born very small because I couldn’t get enough food, as the food had gotten stuck and turned poisonous.
"That was the reason the two previous babies died in her womb. My mum was very happy when I was born and I considered myself lucky to survive with so little food. I thank my mother despite having so many problems while giving birth.
"This shows that she is brave and loves me. :>
"Primary School
"When I was in primary school I was a target for bullies. People usually beat me up, teased me and treated me badly.
"My mum always said to me, 'Rachael prove that you are not someone to be bullied, you are someone who studies well and will be a better person in life than them.'
"One day, there was a classmate of mine who had put a long needle on my chair, and without noticing it I sat on it and my whole back was bleeding.
"My mum came rushing down to file a complaint and immediately transferred me to a different school. I was really stressed, and my mum supported me, but in the end I did not do that well for the PSLE and ended up in the Normal (Technical) stream.
"My mum never scolded me or beat me, and to my surprise she hugged me and said 'congratulaions, you are advancing to secondary school!'.
"My father was sad that I could not go to a better stream but my mum encouraged me and said that I could do 100% better in my secondary school. She told me that I had done my best and would do better.
Read about Rachael's secondary school experiences on the next page.
"Secondary School
"I enjoyed my secondary school years a little more than primary school. But I still encountered bullying. They no longer beat me up, but continuously gave me trouble.
"For example, they would pour sweet drinks into my bag and onto my books while I was not in class. They would also pour water and chalk powder onto my table and chair.
"They would also hide my things and not return them. They would also take my bag and put it in the boys' toilet. They even took my books and put them in the rubbish bin, and so many more.
"My mum would come running down to my school each and every time to complain to the discipline master, who would assure her that it would not happen again. But it never ended, and she would have to come down once every two weeks.
"I broke down again. My mum told me, 'Rachael, you can prove to them that you can do it'. That is what she says every time.
"I didn’t do well in my Secondary 1 exams. In Secondary 2, I decided to be more brave, attentive, responsible and take the initiative to do well in my studies.
"To my surprise I scored 6As in my end of year exams! My mum couldn't express her emotions when she saw the report book and showed it to all my relatives proudly, and I happy to be among the good ones in class. I was even selected for one of the top six in class for the honours roll tea session with the principal.
"They also posted the name list in the board and she came from home to see it and was so happy and told me that I should continue in this way, and that she was very proud of me.
"I also received a speech day award for coming first in class for Tamil. To my surprise, my class stopped bullying me after that. And I also received a $300 scholarship for being the top 10% in my stream, which was very helpful for my family.
"In Secondary 3, I had a wonderful and caring teacher, Mr Soh, so I also scored well and was in the honours roll at the end of the year.
"I received a speech day award again for being first in Tamil and Elements of Business Skills.
"I also received a scholarship from an MP. My mum was overwhelmed with joy and proud of me.
"N- Levels
"I had been having good results for everything except my Math, never passing it. My mother’s only concern was, for me to pass my Maths in my N-Level exams.
"I strived and at last I passed my Maths at my N-Levels, and my mum shed tears of joy. I was offered all the courses in ITE. I thank my mother for being a role-model for me.
Read about some accidents Rachael's mother endured on the next page.
"After my N-levels
"I decided to go for a traineeship, studying and working. She agreed and on the first day of registration, my mum brought me to ITE to apply for courses.
"I was eagerly waiting for them to call me and I went for the interview and was selected. My mum was very happy about it. So now I’m working and studying at ITE College as a customer service guest relations assistant, and my mum is so proud and spreading the news to my family and relatives.
"Some accidents
"When I was young, I met with a bus accident. I tripped and fell when the bus driver moved the bus with one of my legs on the bus and another on the ground.
"I fell and hit my face. My mother never saw the accident but she saw me lying on the ground. She spoke to me but I did not respond; she shook me and saw blood all over my face and fainted, the ambulance came and said only one person could accompany me, so my grandmother who was there brought me and my mum was awaken when I went in the ambulance.
"I went to the hospital and was waiting for the queue number. In about 15 minutes my mum arrived, she came and saw me waiting for the queue number and rushed to the nurse and shouted: 'Is this what you do for an emergency, blood is running all over her face and you give her a queue number.'
"The nurse apologised and brought me to the red door. The doctor said that I would have to stitch my face near the eye as there’s a cut there. My mum refused because she did not want me to have a scar on my face so the doctor agreed to glue my cut shut.
"I am very grateful to my mum for coming down so fast and helping me to avoid a stitch scar on my face.
"One day, my brother was out shopping with my mother, and nearly fell into an uncovered drain. My mother immediately pushed him onto the grass, causing her to slip and her own leg got stuck in the drain instead.
"On hearing the news, we rushed down and found out that she had to put a cast onto her leg as it had been fractured.
"Even though she got injured, she didn’t worry about it and said that at least she saved her son from falling.
"She was so caring then and I was so touched.
Read about how Rachael's mum helped her realise her dream of singing in Tamil on the next page.
"Music Album Experience
"I have a heartfelt love for music. Singing is my passion. I have always looked for chances and have entered many singing competitions and won first prize.
"It was my mum who gave me the passion for singing. I was looking for a good opportunity, when my mother gave me a surprise by bringing me to a recording studio for a voice test when she said she saw an ad looking for singers.
"I sang and was selected to sing on the album.
"My mum was so happy and couldn't express her feelings. I really appreciate my mum for giving me such an opportunity.
"Other commitments
"My mum will always take us on vacation at least once in six months.
"People probably won't believe this, but one week before my N-Levels I was so scared and stressed that she asked me to relax and took me on a three day break.
"Would any other mother allow her daughter to go on a vacation with just one week to her major examination? I don’t think so. But I really thank her for her concern.
"My mother has always been like a sister and a friend to me. She is like an elder sister when I am in need and a friend when I just want to have fun.
"People always say that I have my mother’s face and we look like sisters. She even has a Facebook account and enjoys everything like a teenager. She is an awesome friend you can look out to for help.
"I really love my mother’s cooking. My favourite are her chicken dishes.
"My mother is a teacher when I need help in my studies, an advisor for my future, and a doctor when I’m sick and a chef when I am hungry. :D
"My dream, and that of my mother, is for me to become a singer for the Tamil cinema industry. I will achieve it.That's my wish and my mother’s dream.
"I love her and I will always care for her. I wish my mum a wonderful mother’s day!!! I love you mum.
Read about how Rachael's mum keeps her family happy, despite trying times on the next page.
"Struggling Times
"At home we have financial issues and my mum and dad struggle to give us at least one meal a day.
"she always used to tell of her childhood stories of harder times and teach me to be happy with what I have now and pray for everyone in the world to have good food. There are times that my mum cries in the night for us due to personal issues.
"Medical Issues
"I had a medical problem when I was young, and because of it other students would tease me and teachers would say bad things about me.
"They would call my mum and she would rush down to handle the problem. Now I am better by her care.
"One Christmas I fell and fractured my leg and couldn't walk properly. I was given three months' medical leave, and couldn't study well in Secondary 1. Though I came in last in class for the common tests, she encouraged me and gave me moral support.
"During the medical leave my mum wanted to take me to Penang for festivals there, but because of my leg I couldn't go.
"I was very sad, and when she saw me crying she brought me carefully to Penang.
"Nobody knew it was even fractured as my mum hid the injury and I was very happy and thankful for that.
"Things that I love mostly about my mum.
"My mum always acts like my little sister because I have always wanted a sister but am the only daughter in the family. She talks in a little girl's voice to make us feel joyful.
"My mum always involved me in all types of competitions and taught me how to sing, tell stories and speak in debating competitions.
"She always filled me with confidence to win -- now I have a cupboard full of trophies.
"She brings joy and laughter to the household.
"Sometimes I get irritated by backstabbers and get jealous but my mum always teaches me that if they want to be such a person, we don't have to show them the same.
“Roses Are Red”
“Violets Are Blue”
No Matter What? I Want You!!!!!
Last But Not Least
Happy Mothers day!!!!!!! To all mothers out there!!!!!
And a special Loved Mothers day to My mum Rose!!!!
Love always Rachael!!!.;)
Read other Top Mum entries here
