I’m working on an exciting project and today it involved shooting myself cooking with my mom and mil in my kitchen. It was a first for me cooking with the both of them, and I clearly have no cooking skills so I was quite nervous. But it turned out to be so fun. The more my mom and mil complained about how I don’t have enough penyepits or bowls or cups, the more warm laughter filled the kitchen. It turned out to be the best spaghetti dish I’ve ever tasted, and I think it’s because of the love that was poured in the making of it.

I realise how lucky I am to have them in my life and how God made it so easy for me to have a happy family. It’s not about the spaghetti, we could have made maggi for all I care. But it’s the time with them in the kitchen that is so invaluable to me. I know so many people whose mom and mil don’t get along, or they themselves don’t get along with their mil. And here I have these two wonderful women, who I call my moms.

I think the secret to a happy relationship with your mil, is to love her like how you do your own mother. But as much as you need to play your part as a daughter, it takes two hands to clap. The lucky part for me is that both my moms are so so understanding and obliging to the other party. They would always say, “Prioritise her first,” if I ever had to choose between the two. It’s never “me first” with them. When I got married, my mom told me to love my mil with all my heart and to never hurt her. The level of patience and kindness in these two women, I could only imagine to have one day with my own children’s inlaws. (At this point, I can’t even accept Caitlyn, let alone her mother. HAHAHAHA). But if your mil doesn’t accept you? Hey, Allah swt sees your deeds. Only He can open hearts, so never stop making doa and making effort.

God bless these two women of Jannah, Insyaallah. I love you, Mommy and Mak.