By  - Dr. Khalid Sohail

When a mother is a traditional woman

Believes in tough love

Has high standards

Expects a lot from her child

Feels disappointed when the child falls short of her expectations

She does not realize

Her creative child might perceive her

More controlling than nurturing

More critical than loving

Such love is like an orange

Bitter skin, sweet pulp

Sometimes it might take years

Even decades

For the creative child to appreciate her mother’s traditional love

To peel the bitter skin

And taste the sweet pulp

It is sad that I recognized it

After my mother is gone from this world

It might be too late for her

But for me

It is better late than never

I would like to thank

A wonderful mother

My sweetheart Bette Davis

Who helped me appreciate

My mother’s love for me

For the first time in my life

                                                                             Khalid Sohail

                                                                                      Mother’s Day

                                                                                                2007