.classic.

i called my dad's cell trying to track them down in atlantic city so i could wish my mother happy mother's day. he answered, and we had small talk. he then goes, "i had to let kay-tee go." now i have grown up in a household where english is not the first language, and so i am used to misunderstanding my parents. i thought about that sentence for a hot second, because i did not know that my dog was somehow employed by my family and was now being fired. before i had a chance to ask him to clarify that statement, he goes on to tell me that kay-tee had a tumor in her eye and she was in a lot of pain and it would be more hurtful than helpful to have it surgically removed, so when my dad let kay-tee go, he essentially had her put down. i held it together pretty well, even now, i guess i'm kind of numb. i'm more concerned about my sister, who was the real owner. next to my dad, they were the closest. it wasn't exactly what i was expecting when i went to wish mother happy day, but i'm not surprised either. it's never typical.

so finally estelle got on the phone and we were fine until she wanted to put her family friend sally on the phone. not that i have anything against this lady, but why should i wish her happy mother's day when she was never a mother, and more importantly, she can't hear for ish.

m: you want to talk to sally?
s: no.
m: why not?
s: i have nothing to say her. why do i have to talk to her?
m: just say hi to her. so you don't want to talk to sally?
s: no.
m: sally's here, why don't you talk her.
s: ::in my mind:: what part of no do you not understand? :::reality::: FINE. put her on the phone.
m: ::puts me on hold:: sally, stacy wants to talk to you.

what ensued was a 3 minute horrendous conversation with a lady who could not hear me. i was literally YELLING into the phone with her still going, "what was that?"

stop it.

american moms are so different from filipino moms. because most if not all my peers growing up were white, i unfortunately was exposed to different parenting types. i say unfortunately, because if i only knew there was one type of way to raise a kid, maybe i could've been more forgiving, because then i could've told myself that "that's just how it is." but no, i was exposed to a world where mothers spoil their kids rotten with kisses, time and attention. where mothers kiss boo boos instead of yelling at the hole that was torn in your jean pant leg, and read stories to their children at night and "tuck them in" which to this day, i still don't know if i fully know what that is. it is what it is. sometimes it's all about realizing at the end of the day that mothers try their best, and you still need to love them and honor them. because it's the right thing to do.

happy mother's day.