milf: mums in like with flowers (and fans!)

i was still on my extended berfeeling-SAHM maternity leave last year when mother’s day happened (yes yes, get with the programme, i’m going to be harping on this mother’s day thing for one whole week), so i missed out on a little something from my organisation then.

i was thrilled when i got it this time round.

nah, it’s not even anything remotely fancy or terribly exciting.

a committee within our organisation had gone round with a list of names of those who are mothers (and mothers-to-be), and handed out a simple stalk of red carnation with daisies to each of them.

now, strictly speaking, i am NOT a flower person – not in the romantic sense anyway. i’m kinda perverse like that. you know, one of those who hide bouquets given by boyfriends when in public? that’s me. i always have this idea that flowers as a romantic gesture says something about the nature of romance – pretty, sexy, and sweet-smelling in the beginning, wilted, smelly and dead within a week. and roses, those are like the worst kinds to represent love – they’re so short-lived! so i always say, give me something more long-lasting please. (like that tiffany necklace.) or at least something, you know… practical yet significant.

flora hang-ups aside, i must say i do like daisies somewhat. small, cute, practically a weed, found in the wild, no frills, no attitude. i have fond memories of when i was a kid and my parents took me to perth on one of our annual travels abroad, i was quite obsessed with plucking the little daisies from the vast meadows there and stuffing them in my pockets, wanting to bring them all back home. (of course, they were squashed into a pulp within a day. didn’t help that they were in the pockets of a pudgy girl.)

oh, and lilies! those i don’t mind either. they remind me of my wedding.

anyway, back to that red carnation.

as i mentioned, i was quite thrilled this time round to receive a flower. as i looked around and saw other women fussing with it, i felt a warm, fuzzy feeling gush over me. it wasn’t a great gift, red carnations with purple daisies isn’t exactly the most flattering combination, but i guess it was nice that someone, somewhere up there, at the top of the hierarchy, had though of us, women doing their bit of national service (some of you who know the nature of my organisation would understand, hehe) and said, hey, let’s give them a little something to brighten their day and tiny cubicles.

so, thank you.

i’ll try my best to fulfil that 3-children per family quota for you if i can okay?

ps: and as for what practical yet significant gift *i* got from the husband… it was a brand-new mistral tower fan (bargained down to $125) for the living room! yey! now i don’t have to swelter in the heat while watching tv anymore! :p