Mother’s Day 2013

Mom & I in Chinatown in KL this past November

The month of May has always held a special place in my heart. Sure it’s the month I was born, which obviously means it’s a time that I remember my age as well as the love of my family & friends, and maybe because I grew up in Seattle, WA where summer weather is rare and fleeting, May also signifies to me new beginnings, growth, happiness, warmth, and sunshine. More than anything though, the month of May signifies a mother’s love.

This May of 2013 is especially important to me, as I am expecting my first child, a daughter no less! Now, she won’t be here physically until July, but she is thriving & growing inside of me every day and as I am sure you can imagine being a tad emotional these days, I can’t help but walk down memory lane, remembering and honoring the important women in my life.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I spent mother’s day with my own mom in person. Of course its not on purpose or something I strived for, rather its just the road life has taken us both down. I moved away from Seattle over 10 years ago and over time, have moved further and further away from the Pacific NW due to both jobs and of course falling in love with a man who also wants to travel the world as much as I do.

That being said, I miss my mom every day and talk to her via Skype, Viber, and email any chance I can get. She’s the most important shaper of my life and as I prepare to become a mom to a daughter myself, I can’t help but think about all the “I told you so” moments and the “when you become a mom you’ll understand” comments that used to drive me crazy!! Now, I’m not about to say (or admit) that she may have been right about the majority of the things we disagreed on, but I will say that as I age, I’m starting to see more and more how wise she is in many ways, as well as how strong of a woman she has been all these years and still is to this day.

I’m also very fortunate enough to be able to introduce my daughter to my grandma this coming October, where we will be able to capture in a picture, a moment in time where 4 generations of females are together. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am about this upcoming event. How special of a memory this will be (at least to the 3 of us who are aware), and at a much later date, my daughter will also realize the special gift given to her at such a young age.

My grandma is such a kind & loving woman. I outgrew her when I was 10 years old, but I still love & miss her warm hugs and I cherish our short but heartfelt conversations every chance I get. She’s got a stubborn streak that she has passed down to my mom & I, but I like to look at that trait in a positive way J. She raised a very independent, strong willed, beautiful, thoughtful, and loving woman. I am lucky enough to call that woman my mom. My mom in turn raised me to be fiercely independent, adventurous, to always to strive for the best, to never let anyone tell me I can’t do anything I set my mind to, and to be generous & giving with my heart and soul.

I think a lot these days about how I am going to raise my daughter- what qualities I want to instill in her and how I hope she becomes everything she wants to be in life. I think about the relationship she will have with me as her mother, advocate, friend, and supporter, as well as the all-important one she will have with her father, my amazing husband. I’m incredibly excited to watch their relationship grow over the years and for them to love & cherish that special bond they have every day.

I am also one of the lucky ones who has inherited a beautifully loving & caring mother-in-law. I am smart enough to realize that she has molded my husband into the man he is today and for that I am incredibly grateful, for she has given me the best gift, a loving husband and the father of my child.

I know I am not perfect, and I don’t want my daughter to think that she has to be either. Our imperfections are what make each of us beautiful and unique in our own way. I hope I remember in all the new-mommy moments that I am bound to go through that I don’t need to have all the answers, and that regardless of the small (or maybe even big) mistakes that I will at many times make, that everything has a reason & a purpose and that we can & will all learn from every experience- both good & bad. I will lean on my grandma, mom,  mom-in-law , sister, sister-in-laws, & friends for support, answers, and help, knowing that they’ve all experienced what I am about to as well.

So this Mother’s Day take some time to reflect on the women in your life who have shaped you to become who you are today. Think about the word “MOM” and what that means to you. Carve out some time for phone calls, lunch dates, and “female” time and remember how strong you are as a woman and the reason you came to be that way. Write down some thoughts on what kind of mom you want to be as well.

Life is not a race, it’s a journey; so honor the path you are going down, no matter where it takes you, and always remember the women who gave you the chance to go through it all, loving & supporting you along the way.

Afternoon coffees in Melaka, Malaysia!

Until next time, Happy Mother’s Day!

~ Kimbra