2017 Sep 20
Every mother in this world is just amazing, let’s get that right first! But as Lankans, I think we can all agree that our Ammas stand out from the rest. However, more often than not, this special lady tends to get taken for granted. So, for the purpose of correcting this terrible crime, I will take you down memory lane to remind you of the many roles Ammas play to make our daily lives a success.
1. The world class worrier
Now it’s no secret that the main thing our mothers do better than anyone else is mastering the art of worrying. Just when you think mom has run out of things to worry about, you’ll probably receive an Amma-text that goes like “Putha, apparently that chocolate spread you keep eating can cause cancer. I just got an e-mail!” Sure, we’ve all gotten a bit annoyed by this. However, I urge you to take a moment and think of all the problems you avoided because you have a super paranoid mother. Maybe you escaped a car crash because she constantly worried about you speeding. Maybe you dodged dengue these days because she was worried enough to apply mosquito repellent on you every day. So really…. where would be without our Amma worriers? (pun intended)
2. The Master-Chef
Do you know the makings of a great chef? Stamina, good multitasking capabilities, the ability to take criticism and passion. Well Lankan mothers have it all. No matter how tired she is, Amma will rise at 5 AM, swiftly make and pack everyone’s delicious lunch boxes and also accept your complaints about the menu. And all of this done with so much passion and love in her heart. As for the taste…. well in my opinion, no matter where you go in the world, nothing beats a Lankan mother’s string hoppers, pol sambol, chicken curry and dhal. Yup, Amma’s cooking really is the best! (Go on you can admit it! I won’t tell your wife 😉 )
3. The Amma app
As long as your Amma is around, there really is no need for alarm clocks, reminder apps or memos. Our moms possess the ability to remember the things we ourselves have long forgotten. And as a bonus, Amma’s reminders come with scary threats at the end. “It’s 2 P.M, drink your medicine. If not, you will relapse and be admitted to the ICU. Don’t expect me to come and hold your hand ah!”, “It’s almost 8 P.M. Remember to be home by 9 or your father will hammer us both.” What’s the best part in all of this? Well, the Amma app never has errors, never crashes and never runs out of battery.
4. The late-night hotline
After we move out of home and live (or try to live) as adults, heaven knows there are days when life really brings you down. You know those days where you’ve gained weight, your significant other is just rude, your boss is ruder and the petrol in your car is below empty. As you fling yourself on to the bed fed up of everything you’ve gone through, there is one person who always answers your calls no matter how late it is. Yes your Amma will do her best to listen to all your troubles and come up with ways to make you smile. However, she won’t be able to resist throwing in some “Ahh, didn’t I tell you? Amma kiyana de ahanna child!” But hey, in her defence, she’s probably right. Mothers always know best right?
5. The pillow for venting
In our heart of hearts, most of us are aware that our mothers will love us no matter what we say or do. Hence, there are plenty of days where we hang up quickly when Amma calls, pick fights with her and scream out things we don’t mean. I understand that it’s nothing personal, you’re probably just in a bad mood right? But believe me when I say, there are very few people in this world who will let you vent your frustration on them and still love you the same way. That special ability is something only your Amma has. Why? Because at the end of the day, you are and will always be her everything.
So if you haven’t told her already, call your Amma and say you love her! Thank her for putting up with your drama and do your best to appreciate her better. If you said something mean yesterday, don’t just let it be. Say you’re sorry! Go on and do it right now… because life is just too short to be postponing.
“My Amma is my trusted friend who gave me the zest to achieve every single target in my life. Her intuition is always so spot on because she can perfectly guess whenever I am feeling down. She is my hero and I’m eternally grateful to her for being such a wonderful mom. Also, I would like to say I’m sincerely sorry if I ever hurt her for stupid reasons. Thank you for everything Amma!”
-Thiruni G.
“I am 53 years old and my Amma still worries about me. She always has an amazing cup of tea ready for me when I come home from work. She has supported me throughout my life and there’s really nothing I could have achieved in this world without her.”
-Jayathri K.
“My mother is my inspiration. She’s always so calm and knows the perfect thing to do in every situation. I look up to her in so many ways!”
– Navindi W.
“Mama is basically one of the greatest moms ever. I mean I know that most children say their mother is amazing. But really there is literally no one in this world who loves and cares for me as much as she does”
-Adil H.
