LETTER TO MY MOTHER: GEORGETTE MONNOU

Dear Mama,

First and foremost I just want to say that I love you.
When I was approached to write this, I was overwhelmed with ideas and thoughts of how to structure this letter, but right now as I type it, I am not entirely sure what to say or how to say it.

Do I start talking about my naughty days or do I begin by speaking about the many qualities in in you I admire? I have decided right this moment to start a different way.

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Dear Mama,

The older I become, the more I realise how much you have sacrificed for Nadine and I. The many years you have spent and still do, working crazily at the office to ensure that you can provide for the both of us is just the beginning. I remember when we were in Dakar and you would wake us up at 3 o clock in the morning when you got home, giving us a kiss on our cheek and asking us how our day was. We would groggily reply telling you about the boy in our class that lent us his sharpener or cry about the mean person who bullied us. Although it seemed crazy to us at the time, being woken up in the middle of the night, I now realise that you did that so that we could know that our mama loved us.  The same cycle would continue as you were out the door again by 7am. Till this day, I do not know how you juggled it.

You pour your heart and soul into everything that you do: with passion, perseverance and hardwork. I stand amazed at your wealth of knowledge whether in Philosophy, Medicine, Finance, Law or Ethics. I guess I get my open mindedness and determination from you. I remember your active involvement in the School’s PTA, your role as their Treasurer or your many great relationships with our teachers. This is just representative of how involved you are in our lives academically and emotionally.

Apart from your brilliant mind, you are also quite the character. I believe that we can definitely make the Reality TV show “Keeping up with the L’Okigbo’s work.” You always make Nadine and I laugh and the beauty of it is that it is always inadvertently! Bukky speaks about how funny you are all the time! You come up with the most hilarious phrases: ‘Oh he’s an unfortunate boy.’ Or more recently, “Just take your blood test and go, before they lock you up!” (Putting that into context I had just gone to the doctor to get a general check-up and I had no idea that the NHS do not provide that service. I explained to my mum that the nurse looked at me like I was crazy when all I wanted, was to check was that I was generally well). Mum you made me laugh so hard with that statement!

Your dramatic nature also deserves a mention. Remember when Nad told me that we only had two cars parked in the driveway for Aunty Vicky’s birthday and you were adamant that there were cars parked all the way down the street! Haha, we know what you meant, “There was a lot of activity, too much activity!”

I want to thank you for all the years you put into training me and encouraging me. It has not always been an easy ride but I would like to think that you have so much to be proud of. *cheeky grin*

I cannot possibly fit everything I want onto this page. But I want you to know that from the bottom of my heart, you are my hero.

Written with all my love,

Votre fille,

Georgette