The one about the Mother's Day Giveaway

Last weekend, as part of Home & Decor's Mother's Day celebration, we held a small Instagram giveaway. The prize was a super-cool handheld vacuum cleaner with sweep and mop functions, and all you had to do was to tell us how it can help you and your mom when it comes to doing the housework.

While the giveaway was a success, and we're glad to share that with our H&D fam, there were a couple of followers who pointed out that we should not stereotype a mother's role as being the main houseworker. They were hurt that we would want to gift a mother a handheld vacuum cleaner.

I am grateful for the feedback, and while it did help to start a conversation with my own mother and several others I know, I also chose not to amend our original caption in the Instagram post. The rationale at that time was if we had to be diplomatically correct all the time when it comes to family roles, then wouldn't it be wrong of anyone to set aside specific days just for the mother and father, but not acknowledge others in the family?

If it's wrong to gift a mom a handheld vacuum, it's just as bad wanting to gift a dad an electric drill. I believe the people who agree with this would also argue that it's wrong to gift children play-kitchen sets or the toy-version of the Dyson vacuum cleaner, simply because we are conditioning them for the life of a homemaker.

Stereotypes aside, I understand the stance, but I do not agree that we should avoid gifting home appliances to our moms because of the negative connotation they may imply. If anything, the thoughtfulness of the gift itself recognises the great sacrifices all mothers go through.

For those who feel that a mother will be hurt by the gift of a handheld vacuum, guess what, nothing can be more painful than the physical act of giving birth. Don't underestimate mothers, because when they chose to be one, they already made the mammoth decision to be a part of our lives, bringing us up, teaching us, loving us and of course making sure the home we live in is clean, healthy and safe for everyone in the family.

Being from an Asian family, my mother doesn't have the habit of hugging her children on a regular basis, but like so many other Asian mothers I know, she shows it through ways like asking about your day, doing your laundry, preparing your meals. She does away with the physical acts preferred by Western cultures, and instead focuses on perfecting the little acts of concern she carries out, from slaving over the stove to prepare a slow-brewed tonic soup, to making sure the home is free of dust.

I don't know anyone who can be a better homemaker other than my mother. She's the best at cleaning the home, the best cook, the best listener at dinner time when I have to gripe about my day, and the best storage organiser because she knows just where everything is in the house. I suspect many of you will feel the same way about your moms.

"Would you be hurt if I said I wanted to get you a handheld vacuum cleaner?" I asked mom the other night, after mulling over the issue.

"Hurt? Why would I be hurt that you're finally acknowledging that I'm the one who does the proper cleaning up around here," she quipped, "And since you're giving one away maybe you can ask LG for another one for me!"

Jokes aside, I think what makes a mother's role so unique and so admirable, is the fact that it is an unconditional role. It's a 24-hour job, seven days a week, 365 days a year for as long as the family needs her.

Ask any mother what's their greatest fear. I asked several and the answer is simple: the fear of not being needed anymore. Their fear isn't one about being stereotyped or regarded as the main cleaner of the house, if anything knowing that we appreciate their sacrifices and need them to continue being there, is the reason why they are happy to be mothers.

Even though I've moved into my own apartment, my mom comes over and tells me what an awful job of cleaning up I'm doing (much to my chagrin), and that she should come over to give me a hand. On reflection, it's just her way of telling me she still cares for me, and want to remain a part of my daily life no matter how far away I've moved. Do I take her up on her offer, of course not, she's way too happy enjoying her retirement to be picking up after me, but I will still agree with her that no one can clean a room better than the way she's done for me all along, and that there's so much I still have to learn from her.

It doesn't matter what you give a mother, as long as you let her know she's still needed and a part of your life. Get her flowers, jewellery, appliances or anything she fancies. Heck, get her an electric drill if she's always the one repairing all the things at home. Show her you still need her at the end of the day.

To all the mothers out there, including my own, Happy Mother's Day.

Also, be sure to follow us on our Instagram for many other cool giveaways!