SHILONG:
It was Mother’s Day on May 8 and as people from across the globe ushered in celebrations in honour of their mothers for their unconditional love, care and affection, gratitude poured in for all the mommies online and social media websites were choc-a-block with pictures, greeting cards and messages.
Over the years, the efforts to make moms feel special on this day has seen a paradigm shift. Today, with the advent of high-tech smart phones and technology, just posting a photograph of one’s mother with a caption on various social media websites is a trend in vogue. However, often netizens forget that this person that they are wishing on this auspicious day, doesn’t even have any account on social media. The reason, many say, is that they feel awkward to display their affection physically to their moms.
For instance, 20-year-old Sam Nongbri is a case in point. The youngster has posted many pictures with his Mei on social media on Mother’s Day, but, when it came to actually wishing her in person, Nongbri shied away. “I have uploaded several photos of my Mei wishing her good health and thanking her for giving birth to me. I can’t actually say sweet things to anyone, let alone my mom. I feel very shy,” he says.
Echoing with Nongbri, Benjamin B. said that he loves his mother dearly, but displaying affection is difficult. “My mother is very special to me like everyone else’s, but I am quite sure that she doesn’t even know that a day dedicated to mothers actually exists. So, I don’t wish her at all.” However, he has uploaded a couple of photos of his mother on social media.
Just like every coin has two sides, not everyone spent Mother’s Day “virtually”.
Nita Sharma, mother of two, spent her day with friends as she was away from the family. Sharma received a flower bouquet from her daughters, who are miles away, through online delivery. “It was such a pleasant surprise. Of course, being away from them on this day makes me sad, but my girls never fail to amuse me. I feel so lucky,” she said.
Sharma said that she celebrates the day with her daughters every year without fail, but this year, due to some work, she had to get out of station. “I miss them very much. They are good girls; they help me with household chores and never disrespect me. All that acute pain and sleepless nights that I endured while bringing them to the world, were all worth it,” she told The Meghalayan over the phone.
For Pinky Malngiang, a resident of Byrnihat in Ri Bhoi district, she only got to know about Mother’s Day and started celebrating it after her children grew up and apprised her about it. “Initially, I wasn’t aware of Mother’s Day celebrations. But only started celebrating it after my children grew up and started wishing and showring me with gifts on this day.”
Reminiscing the earlier days, Malngiang said how the whole family would go out for a picnic or have a hearty lunch to celebrate the day. “You worry about your children’s future all your life, but when they find a job and leave the house to stand up on their feet on their own, you, being a mother, tend to feel a little left out,” she said.
While boasting about her children she added that they never fail to wish her, be it in person or over the phone. “This year I couldn’t meet them on this day but I still celebrated it with my friends who are also mothers. We all went out for lunch and gave each other small gifts,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dianalyne Tariang, 65, from the city celebrated the Mother’s Day with her entire family. She went out for dinner with her children and her husband. “It was a wonderful evening. Other days, we don’t get to spend time together as my kids go to work every day. I am glad that they organised this little get-together for me and made me feel special,” Tariang said.