Keeping the peace, keeping mum.

At times it is best to just keep quiet. Take the time when my mother was complaining that my son was too naughty. The little fella is coming 2 years and the fearless streak is appearing. He climbs, runs and bear-hugs the cat. Nothing wrong with that, he is (after all) a boy.

But my mother thinks I don't enforce enough discipline on him. It's funny because when I do become strict with him, my mother will be the first to point out that my son is still a little boy, don't know anything, bla,bla,etc,etc. So when she does go into one of those moods, I keep quiet. Now, you must understand. In an Asian context, we are not suppose to speak up against anything our parents say. It's considered rude and sinful to do so. What parents say becomes law and it is a law that you do not want to break.

So me being quiet is a normal practice among most elder sons. You bear with it and allow it to go over your head. But sometimes the words spoken do hit a raw nerve. Sometimes they do cause a measure of hurt and frustration. Often times, I wish I was not living under the same roof.

I do not mind if the words are spoken against me but when they include another person that is dear to me, I get all work up. Statements about my son hurt me most. For he is unable to defend himself let alone to talk back. But I don't want to talk back to my mum so it's all a funny circle of silence with the only person speaking - my mum.

Sometimes keeping the peace means that your life is total at war.