Bye-bye Mama Ina

Today is a sad day for me.

Today is a sad day for Mama Ina.

It is the last day for Zachary and in a way Batrisyia too.

So by default, it is a sad day for both Zachary and Batrisyia too.

Mama Ina took care of Batrisyia since she was only two months old, sometime back in 2001. She had been a good other mom for both of my children. And Batrisyia loves Mama Ina very much despite she was always arguing with her. But that's just Batrisyia.

She took care of both my children , and Haziq too sometimes, like as if they were her own children. Sometimes I think she is far more concern of their welfare more than I am.

Mama Ina is a great cook. Since Batrisyia stayed with her, she loves food more than Haziq does, and she definitely took spicy food better than Haziq. Thanks to Mama Ina’s masak lemak cili api (spicy coconut gravy with chillies). Even I have the opportunity to doggy-bag her food. And her porridge for Zachary is far far tastier than my bland porridge.

Mama Ina is a child minder that you can always count on. I have a peace of mine when my children are with her. Even when they have fever, for she knows when is the right time to alert me.

My children have the best of treatment from her. During sleeping time, Mama Ina would lie next to them and pat them to sleep, which she, in the process, slumbers too. Ahhh..the excuses of taking care of children.

But, with my change of routine, we all have to say goodbye to Mama Ina.

I hugged her goodbye. She kissed Zachary many times, crying.

I am bad at good-byes. Sometimes I don’t know how to let emotions go. Sometimes I don’t want to worsen the situation. I didn’t want to cry.

But I did.

Before I left, I asked whether I could still count on her just in case. She gladly said, in between her tears, anytime, Lollies, anytime.


My children's happy times with Mama Ina. The baby on the most right is baby Eizlan. He is Zachary's friend.