Musings of My Mil, The Maid and A Magic TV box

 In my Mil’s room, sitting on the main display table by the wall, lies a magic box, otherwise known as the Television. 

Mil spends a great part of her time in front of it, catching her favourite shows. She has a schedule that she sticks to, one that allows her to balance between busying herself with the kitchen-y things that she wants to do, and the dramas that she wants to follow. 

On slow afternoons, and in between her chores, helper also spends time in Mil’s room chasing after the many dramas with ‘Ah Ma’. 

During my WFH days, their conversations while watching the dramas together, never fail amuse me. 

“Ah Ma! This one die already ah? DIE ALREADY AH?!!” As if in disbelief that a character she saw in a neverending Taiwanese drama could truly be killed off in the show. (Imo probably will be resurrected as a sibling or amnesiac character later on based on previous shows.)

Or

“THIS ONE VERY NAUGHTY! Always so naughty!” Mil comments indignantly - and with such conviction! 

“You see! Fighting again! VERY NAUGHTY!”

(To put things into context, Trump is also categorised by Mil as a naughty someone.)

She sometimes gets herself so invested in the plots that you can hear her commentary all the way from the living room.  

“HNGH! Very very bad ah!”

Or,

“GOOD LA!! VERY GOOD LA!” when the ‘naughty’ characters get their just desserts. 

Other times, there are conversations that go like this:

 “This one where the daughter? Die already ah?”

“No.. This one girl ma. Grandma like boy.” (Mil explaining on the concept of重男轻女.)

More often than not, they are on familiar first name terms with the characters. 

“Wow. How come she come out alrdy? Who help her?”

“Oh. This one Weijie help her.”

Understandably the questions come from helper as she either, did not understand the conversations/plots in the show, or missed out a chunk while doing her chores.  

And so, Mil, in her limited repertoire of English words, would try to explain the plots to helper. 

Although Chinese educated and armed with only a very limited vocabulary of English, Mil has always been able to somehow, describe certain events, proceedings, descriptions, cultures and yes, even drama plots to my helper. 

Their conversations often consist of a mixture of English, a smattering of Mandarin, and whatever dialect/malay/singlish words my Mil conjures up with. Through their daily interactions over the months, they have very likely invented a language that only both of them understand. 

In the midst of overhearing their conversations, I have come to the conclusion that the ubiquitous Television is indeed a Magic Box. 

Not only does it keep Mil entertained, but through the programs and their interactions, it also bridges the gap between 2 different nationalities, cultures, and generations. 

To my eyes, the benefits do not end there. On a smaller domestic scale, in the need to explain the plots to helper, it forces Mil to keep her mind engaged and active. I suppose as opposed to just droning while watching, this forced engagement challenges her to expand her limitations of language as she tries to push herself to explain the happenings in the shows. 

In exchange, helper also feels more included, and is also able to better understand and assimilate into the culture, customs and family she is living with. 

So you see, not only can the Television bring entertainment, it can also bridge knowledge and two complete strangers together. 

Indeed. What a magical box the television is!

Love in a (half eaten) Pancake

Love comes in many forms. 

Some come in the form of flowers and gifts. 

Others appear as hugs and kisses. 

Sometimes, it comes in the form of a half eaten pancake. 

I don’t usually post much about Le Son. Boys being boys, and amplified by the angst during the man-teen stage, abhors any form of affection, spoken or physical. 

It also doesn’t help that communication and consideration aren’t exactly his vibe. 

Hugs will be pushed away. 

Motherly concerns of any kind will be rebutted with snarky remarks and/or sarcasm. 

Physical gifts are rarely heard of. 

I also recently had to call him out for finishing both my bag of chips and for constantly chugging empty the freshly bought carton of milk. 

So it was such a surprise when he texted recently if anyone wanted pancakes since he was getting one. 

Since all of us replied in negative, he didn’t text any further. 

When I came home that night, he told me brusquely that he bought two pancakes and ate one. The other one, was for me. 

(Additional info no one asked for - I am also his go-to sweet tooth partner.) As I was still full from dinner, I told him that he could have it if he wanted to. 

Imagine my surprise when I woke up the next morning to see him affronted that I did not eat his pancake last night. He then told me that he would eat half of it for breakfast and leave the other half for me. 

For someone who usually eats thrice more than me and gobbles up whatever goodies I buy, leaving one half of a small pancake actually meant sacrificing a lot on his end. 

He could have easily eaten both pancakes yesterday, or finish it this morning without telling me. 

But when I went to have my coffee later that morning, I found the half torn pancake, chocolate oozing and all,  proudly awaiting my arrival on a plate. 

I ate the pancake. 

The Verdict? 

The pancake was cold and hard. And the chocolate filling was gunky from being exposed out in the open.

But my heart? 

Filled to the brim with warmth and fuzziness.  

It was the best pancake I’ve ever had.

Sometimes, love shows up in the form of heart to heart chats, thoughtful notes and gentle company.  

And other times, love appears in the shape of a half eaten misshapen pancake with thoughts that are not spoken out loud.  <3