This guide is different from the others I've made since this is not related to the site in anyway but I feel that this is relevant or might help those who experience the same thing with their mothers. But if you don't, well, praise the Lord above. Well, if you do, thank Him still for giving you a mother.

Early this morning, my mother asked me to clean our room - I still share a room with my sister. By 'clean', she doesn't mean the usual every day cleaning we do after we get up from bed. So I do as she wishes.

NUMBAH ONE. If she tells you to do something, you do it right away. You drop everything, even your assignment, or you'll never hear the end of it. And she doesn't forget. She won't let you forget. And your relatives will know.

I have allergic rhinitis - allergic to dust, pollen, etc. I don't have a dust mask so I wrap a bandana over the lower half of my face. Then I start moving the bed, the chairs, etc and sweep. Half-way through I start sneezing and my eyes tear up but I continue until I finish the whole floor area. I haven't made it down yet when I hear her ranting.

"Alam mo naman na babahingin ka, Bakit hindi ka nagtakip ng ilong?" (You very well know that you're allergies would act up [aka sneeze]. Why didn't you cover your nose?)

I stand in the middle of the stairs awkwardly, with a huge anime sweat drop in my forehead and answered, "I am wearing my bandana." I let that sink it and she replied, "Eh bakit binahing ka pa rin?" (Then, why'd you keep sneezing?")

My sister answered for me, "It's not like she's wearing a dust mask."

NUMBAH TWO. Common sense is your ally. Use it because she assumes that you don't have it and would use it against you in an argument. Ignorance is not an excuse.

NUMBAH THREE. Answer calmly. If she still doesn't get it, let your sister do the rest. Jk. Let it go. She does not accept her mistakes easily. She will reason that she assumed wrong because you did this, did that. In short, it's your fault she was wrong. But it's not. She knows it too. Save yourself the trouble. Move on. Because it is a battle you'll lose. 

We bought lunch for our mom one fine Sunday and me and my sis got... a lecture of how we were wasting money and that she already had lunch. The next Sunday, we didn't buy her food. She phoned dad telling him that we forgot about her.

The same thing happened when we bought shirts in the mall. Before leaving, we asked her if she wanted anything, she said nothing. And when we returned, "Bakit hindi niyo ako binili?" (Why didn't you buy something for me?)

NUMBAH FOUR. Either way, you'll hear a word or a paragraph from her. So just buy that food or perfume. If she doesn't like it, you can just eat the food or use the perfume. This tip came from my dad after we told him why we didn't buy her lunch. 

NUMBAH FIVE. The most important thing is that you should know your mother - what makes her tick and avoid annoying her at all costs. She seems to be at that default state already - believing that her way is the right way. So don't agitate her by doing the opposite.

I hope I didn't paint a bad image of my mom. This is just one side of her. She has other redeeming qualities. Like other moms out there. I just want to share how I deal with her so that I won't resent her. The Bible teaches us to honor our mother and father or a curse will be upon us. Well, I am not saying that I'm doing this because I don't want to be cursed. I don't want to be cursed... but I also love my parents, even though how imperfect they are. They say we are the combination of everything wrong about our parents, and some more. But I also believe we are also a combination of everything right about them. And for that we should be grateful.

- Keeper