My First Born

Note: This entry is more than 24 hours early. This is because I will be travelling tomorrow and therefore I will have no time to post this entry on the actual date of her birthday.

On 18 Sept 1987, since the time I woke up I was having contractions in my belly. It was already 9 days overdue from the date the doctor calculated for for me. But, it could be a mistake on my part, since it was the first time I was pregnant, and I couldn't really tell which date I and hubby actually did the "jengjengjeng" part (to quote Anedra).

Since it was still too far apart I wasn't that alarm, my hubby's cousin who is a doctor told me to wait, she said it was too soon to go to the clinic. Anyway the clinic was on the same road as my MIL's house where I was staying at that time. Nothing to worry about. I just followed her advise, whenever you have a contraction, take deep breath, and breath out from your mouth, pooh, pooh like that. Sure enough the pain would go away for a while then came again later.

When it was getting closer and closer, I just told my MIL and my hubby that it would be time to go to the clinic. He drove me and MIL to there. Couldn't trust me to walk although it was near. I spent the whole night there having labour pain, my MIL was there with me throughout the night reciting duas and rubbing my back. The pain was getting excrutiating as the time passed by, but still I was not ready for birth. MIL and I hardly slept the whole night. The next morning, I was then wheeled to the labour room and at about 9.00 am 19 Sept 1987, my first daughter was born. My mother's reaction was. she was as fair as cotton (kapas).

That was 18 years ago. Being the first born she is special, because it was the first time for me to experience pregnacy, labour pain and motherhood. I do not mean I love my daughters differently. They are equally loved but, of course for any parent the first born is very special to them. Kak Long is special to us.

My hubby called her my duplicate because we seemed to have the same interest and she is able to talk to me on anything. This year also the first year she is away from home. We worry about her but we will sacrifice for the sake of her future. We missed her so too.

We named her after the lady who was fascinated by the prophet Yusof's handsomeness, who later became his wife. My first daughter may not be as beautiful as her namesake, may not even be offered 100 camels like Kak Teh's R but she is my first born. A special person in her own right, to all of us.

To you sayang mama Kak Long (to use Kak Teh's term), as today marked your 18th birthday, a coming of age for you, Baba, Mama, Angah, Ayin and Syia wish you happiness and success. We all love you so very much.