Hyphenated-Homestead

May 25 has always been special in our home. It’s my mom’s birthday — well, one of them. 😊 Officially, she was born on May 3 that we later realized when her passport was made. Yet May 25 remained the one that we celebrated as the ‘real one‘. 😁 We didn’t ask too many questions back then. Like many from her generation, the date was just… fluid. What mattered was the celebration — and that, we always did with love (and a little too much food).

She never had a “job” in the conventional sense. But her work? Oh, it never ended. Raising two boys, hosting every extended relative who passed through town, making sure everyone was well-fed, and keeping the peace in ways only she knew how. Our house was basically a relative bed-and-breakfast, minus the booking system.

We’d complain — “Why does everyone have to stay here, Aai?” — but secretly, we were proud. She created a home people wanted to be in.

Lately, I’ve been realizing just how much of her lives in me.

I’ve definitely inherited her generous spirit — saying yes before people even ask, trusting faster than I probably should. It’s just part of my DNA, really. Sometimes that backfires (life lesson #427 🙃). But even when empathy stretches me thin, I’d still choose it — just with a little more wisdom next time.

But I also know this: being kind is not the problem. The real challenge is learning where kindness ends and boundaries begin. And that’s exactly the journey I’m on now — one intentional step at a time, through mPath Services and this evolving chapter of my life.

So, on this Memorial Day weekend, I pause to honor her — not just the woman who raised me, but the blueprint of the life I’m now trying to lead. She is long gone 😢but I know she would’ve been the first to cheer me on in this new phase (and make chai for the whole crew)

Happy real-ish birthday, Aai. Your legacy of generosity and empathy lives on — passport date and all.

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Your Turn
Ever inherited a personality trait from someone you love — and are still learning how to manage it? I’d love to hear your story. Let’s laugh, reflect, and maybe set a boundary or two together. 💛

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