Mom is everything...

Editor's Note:Recently, Que Phong District Boarding High School (Nghe An province) organized a "Tribute Through Writing" competition. The competition was enthusiastically received by many students, including Bui Thi Kieu Ly, a student in class 12A3 and a top performer in Literature and History at the provincial level, who won first prize... Nghe An Newspaper would like to introduce Kieu Ly's article for readers' reference.

"You'll find no one in the world as good as your mother."
"No one bears the burdens of life more than a father."

I was born into my mother's gentle embrace but lacked the protective and nurturing arms of a father. My mother tried her best to fulfill her role as a mother, filling the void left by the absence of a father figure in my heart. My mother's nurturing love is as vast as the sky and as boundless as the water in a spring.

Throughout her life, she endured hardships and toiled tirelessly to raise her children, yet she never once complained or blamed fate. Instead, she remained optimistic and lived strongly, just like everyone else.

Since Dad passed away, Mom's burden has grown heavier. She's been both a capable mother and a strong father figure, extending her arms to protect us. The day Dad died, the sky seemed to darken before my eyes. What could be more painful than losing a father, a loved one, a pillar of the family, with all the worries falling on Mom's frail shoulders? I thought I would have to drop out of school that day. But Mom, thank you for giving me an education until now. More than four years have passed, and you've worked tirelessly to support my siblings and me through school. Your thin face, bony hands, and tanned skin are the result of countless years of hardship and struggle. To me, Mom is the most capable woman. Despite the hardships and difficulties of life, I've never seen a tear fall from your face. Your lips always wear a smile to comfort and encourage us. I know that you cried, Mom, a lot, but you cried alone and didn't let me see those tears. You always wanted to maintain the image of a strong person in our eyes.

...It's been a long time since I last heard the sound of Mother's loom. She's been constantly ill. Since Father passed away, our family's livelihood has depended solely on the brocade fabrics she wove. When she was healthy, she always made the most of every second, every minute, weaving as many pieces as she could. Every day she went to work, and in the evenings she would sit and weave until late at night, long after the lights in the surrounding houses had been turned off, leaving only the faint sounds of frogs and toads. And only at dawn would I hear her weaving. Because of this, she developed degenerative spinal disease. She's been constantly ill, and now our only source of income is gone. Our family's life, already difficult and impoverished, has become even harder. I'm grown up now, but I can't help her much. Mother! For seventeen long years you raised me through hardship, yet you never gave up. My family is going through a tough time. Where am I supposed to get the money for daily living expenses, medical treatment for my mother, and so on? I'm truly at a loss. I'm not mature enough to shoulder the responsibility of being the breadwinner for the family.

Watching my mother struggle with the pain, I wish I could bear all that suffering for her. If only our family weren't so poor, my mother wouldn't have to endure such pain. If only our family had money, life wouldn't be so difficult. If only...! If only... and if only.... I don't know how many "if onlys" I've had!

Mom! Everything seemed to fall apart before my eyes when I heard you say, "Please don't take the university entrance exam. I can only support you up to this point; I can't afford to support you further. You know our family's circumstances, and I'm sorry." At that moment, I was truly sad and disheartened. But I know that the saddest person wasn't me, but you! What mother wouldn't want her child to study and build a future? But it was only because of those two words, "circumstances," that you had to say that. I used to think, if only I had both a father and a mother, my life would be different. But Mom, I know our family's circumstances are difficult, so I don't dare dream of anything. I know that "university" isn't the only path I can choose. Please don't be sad, I will try my best to take care of our family.

Thank you, Mom, for bringing me into this world. You are the morning sun that dispels the darkness within me, guiding me on life's arduous journey. You are my shoulder to lean on, my support, my faith, giving me strength to face life's challenges. You are everything to me, Mom! I am so proud and happy to be your daughter. No matter what path I choose in life, I know you will always support me. You will always be my strong foundation. I know I will always have you by my side, sharing everything with me. And I also know that up in the vast sky, Dad's eyes are always watching over my every step. Mom, I will try my best to stand firmly on my own two feet. Please believe in me!

Bui Thi Kieu Ly