Mom, please take care of yourself!

My dearest mother!

Mom, you'll probably be very surprised to receive this letter. After all, it's only a two-hour bus ride from school to home, and I come home often. You probably won't understand why I'm writing this letter or what I'm writing about, since I call home regularly and I'm not very talkative! You know what, Mom? It's just that I'm shy and don't express my feelings much, so I find it hard to tell you what's in my heart. Therefore, I can only write these lines to let you know how much I love you!

Mom! I think the Creator is so generous; He brought me into this life and bestowed upon me countless gifts. And for me, the most precious gift is being your child. You are the most precious gift, not because you are a saint or a great person, but simply because you are my MOTHER.

My mother has sacrificed so much for us: her youth, her health…perhaps her whole life! We were born into a family that wasn't well-off, if not to say struggling to make ends meet. Life in our homeland was so difficult that our family had to leave when we were very young. My parents had to raise us and build everything from scratch in a foreign land. I still remember when we were sick, unable to sleep and crying from pain, my mother couldn't sleep either. When I went to school, my mother was always worried that we wouldn't fall behind our peers. She said, "My life was hard, I had to think about studying early. So now, no matter how hard things get, I'll make sure you all go to school! So you can have a decent profession." Despite her busy and arduous work, she never once made us drop out of school. Then, when I entered high school, I had to cycle 16 kilometers every day to get an education, and my mother would wake up early to prepare lunchboxes for me to take to school.

During important exams, Mom always gave us the best. The day I took my graduation exam, because the exam location was quite far, I had to stay overnight, so Mom prepared lunch and milk for me… Mom, do you know? Sometimes I tell my friends about this and I feel proud. Isn't that strange, Mom? Maybe this is normal for others, but for me, it shows Mom's boundless love. She sacrificed so much but never asked anything in return. That's what motivates us to study hard. I know Mom was so happy when my sister received her acceptance letter to a prestigious university with high scores. Mom didn't say a word, but I saw it in her eyes. I'm proud of my sister, and I know Mom is too. I'm not as smart as my sister, but I tried my best. Then I went to university. The joy came, but it also brought so much worry. Mom's work became even harder.

Then we went to the city, to Saigon with its hustle and bustle, its pleasures that sometimes made us forget the hardships and struggles our mother was enduring. Our sleep seemed longer while she had to wake up at 4:30 every morning. Coming home, seeing the wrinkles on her forehead deepening, we felt so much regret and promised ourselves we would try harder.

Overwork caused my mother to develop terrible illnesses, but she often silently endured the pain for fear of worrying us. Then she went to the hospital, and the doctor told her she shouldn't do heavy work. We advised her against it, but she said, "If I don't do it, who will? Just leave me alone, you all focus on your studies!" The illness tormented her, the pain came more frequently, but because we didn't have money, she didn't go for follow-up appointments. And so, her illness worsened. Mom, do you know? There were times I was so scared. I was afraid that we wouldn't have the chance to repay your great sacrifice. I constantly pray to God that you will live a long life with us. So that when we graduate, we can provide you with a happy and comfortable life. You sacrificed so much for us, yet you never needed anything in return. That's just how you are! You only care about us and never take care of yourself.

My mother is also a selfless person. I'm not saying this because she never hit us, but because she was always understanding and ready to forgive our mistakes. That's why, since I was little, whenever I got a bad grade or made a mistake, she was the first person I confided in. Mom, I know you're very sad about us! Because sometimes we disobeyed and were too playful. Sometimes we were indifferent to your hardships. In 12th grade, a special friend read me the poem "The Red Mole." At first, I didn't think much of it, but today, as a university student, I truly understand it. The poem goes like this:

Turn your leg up to find the red mole.

I remember what my mother used to say.

Your fate is to wander for a lifetime.

Once you leave, you forget the way back…

The wind stopped blowing on the embankment that day.

The dragonfly, with an angry face, cried and refused to greet.

The child lifted its head and dashed towards the street.

Bewildered, the grass turns pale, the dandelion sobs.

Entering the city

Homeland dreams have turned to ashes.

The aspiration to climb to the higher levels.

I draw my dreams with palettes of colors.

Fresh and youthful

Exhausted by the endless journeys

I long for the sound of my hometown…

Now I'm going home.

Sitting on the windy hill

That's my mother.

Brown tombstone

The midday sun fell over my head.

The shadow

Round…

Turn your leg up to find the red mole.

An eye-stinging wound

red...

I suddenly realized that my own image was reflected somewhere, and I feared that one day I would "long for the sound of my homeland..." but all that would remain was "Mother...a brown tombstone..."

My dearest Mother! I'm writing these words, but it's quite possible you'll never receive them because I will never send them! Years will pass, and these words will fade, but Mother, our love for you is forever. Don't sacrifice so much for us! Take care of yourself! Give us a chance to repay your love. Live a long life with us, Mother!

I love you, Mom!

ST