A MOTHER'S SECRET

Every parent's wish especially for us mothers, is nothing but the best for our offspring.It's but usual that every time we parents get together one of our favorite topics is about our children. Often times we love to enumerate to our friends their achievements,rewards, what they have become, their professions, etc. In short all the positive paybacks that our children has showered us in return for what we did to them. Of course our children's accomplishments and what they have become are proofs, so as to be considered as successful parents.Just like having a big house, luxurious car, our children's success also evolves as a "status symbol" for us parents. Just any kind of relationship, parent - child is also not perfect.Though we love our kids so much, and viceversa, there are times that we also have some moments of misunderstanding and differences.One time my long lost friend came to the house for a visit, we were both excited to see each other again after a decade of having no chance of getting in touch, for she migrated to the states more than 10 years ago.I remembered she married a yr.ahead of me.As expected we started talking about our kids.She got 5 children, three boys and two girls. All of them are already professionals. Her husband, an engineer died a yr. ago due to heart ailment, the reason why she decided to come home( what she told me initially ) rather than stay in another country like U.S.While we were having a chat, I couldn't help but wonder why she has chosen to come home when in fact she was living there comfortable w/ her successful brood in the States.After a long conversation,I got an answer to the question I was holding at the back of my mind.Her children were born and raised in the States, the reason why 90% of their behavior and perspectives are influenced by the place where they were brought up.According to my friend, she could feel this early, that sooner or later she'll just end - up in an institution for the aged in the land where others considered as a " LAND OF GREENER PASTURES " and " LAND OF MILK and HONEY ". This nightmare has been haunting her since that incident happened.According to her, she was reprimanded by her oldest son, of not giving prior notice that she was coming to their house at dinner time.When she told the other brood about it,she was dismayed by their reaction, for they accede to what their brother did rather than bawl out for what he did to their poor mom. After that heartfelt conversation, she requested a favor, to keep what she divulge a secret to our other friends and colleagues.Not that she was concern of what our friends will think about her, but what they'll think about her children.I gave her my promise to never divulge the primary reason why she came home, and I intend to keep it.Though I'm making her story a blog, I'll make sure that no one will suspect that it's she whom I'm referring to, for I made some ambiguous changes in my presentation of the story as a whole.I love my friend, and I appreciate her being honest and true. Thou I sympathize with her, I really respect her for not being a cheat,instead she honored and complimented me by sharing and trusting a delicate story of a Mother's secret.