Grace and Grit

Hi,

Hello from Jasin, Melaka! I’m here celebrating CNY with my mother-in-law’s side of the family this year. As she is half-Chinese, I’m learning so much about everything from the food to the local traditions each time during CNY celebration.

During my confinement, when my own mother was still working, my mother-in-law was the one who took care of me. She cared for me and my new-borns for weeks, until I was strong enough to manage on my own. She prepared the most delicious, nourishing Chinese dishes for my recovery, treating me and my babies with the same love and tenderness as if we were her own.

One for the memories. Mak and two of her chinesey daughters-in-law. 😄

And let me tell you, she's also the woman who's never afraid to tell you your outfit looks like a fashion crime scene. Seriously, she's brutally honest. Like, 'Umm, those prints? On those prints? You look like a walking optical illusion.' She's a firm believer in women being confident by being presentable, which, in her world, means no prints on prints. Ever. 'You'll look messy,' she'll declare, with the conviction of a seasoned fashion judge. And we, her daughters and daughters-in-law, just nod and go, 'Okay, Mak.' Haha. 😂

But you know what? We love her for it. Because behind the 'fashion police' persona is a heart of gold. She's taught us to take pride in ourselves, to stand tall, and to maybe, just maybe, avoid wearing that floral-zebra combo we thought was 'edgy.' And for that, and for everything else, she'll always be someone I deeply admire.

She's shown me what it means to be strong, kind, and patient, and those are lessons I'll carry with me always.  Life is unpredictable, but one thing I'm certain of is my unwavering respect for her. She's taught me so much about life, and no matter what happens, she'll always be someone I look up to. 💕