Mom’s Life, My Age: Wonder Woman Without the Cape

What were your parents doing at your age?

They say history repeats itself, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could replay it just once? If I had the power to rewind time, I’d go straight to my mother’s life when she was my age—watching, learning, and maybe even sneaking in a little advice (not that she’d need it).

At my age, my mother was not just working; she was hustling. She balanced work, family, and responsibilities like a seasoned acrobat. She cared for me, managed the household, and even supported her parents and siblings.

“A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she’s in hot water,” Eleanor Roosevelt.

My mother, I’m convinced, could steep into an entire ocean and still emerge strong, holding a ladle in one hand and a to-do list in the other.

My father, who left us too soon, was also in his prime then. I wonder—were their dreams different from mine? Did they ever pause in their whirlwind lives to wish for something more? If I could peek into their thoughts, maybe I’d find unfinished dreams waiting for me to complete.

Even today, my mother is my backbone, the constant reminder that “no matter how old you get, you never stop being someone’s child.” She checks in daily, asking, “Is your prompt writing done?” because she eagerly waits for my WhatsApp message, ready to read my work like a newspaper editorial.

If life had a rewind button, I’d press it—not to change anything, but to listen closely, to fulfill the silent wishes they never spoke aloud.

A Thought to Ponder: We spend so much time planning the future that we forget—sometimes, the past is where the most beautiful dreams are left behind.