Hi, I’m Valerie Rinjani Putri. Just call me Valerie. My mom said that my name means strong. Even though I’m a girl, she encouraged me to be as strong as a man—not in physical strength, but in spirit and conviction. Speaking of strength, I just finished lifting two gallons of water yesterday. Pretty cool, right? (Smiling).
By the way, I live with my mom. “Where’s her dad?”, “Is he gone?”, you might be thinking, right? Well… my dad is here, but not in the way you think—he’s in jail. I’m not making fun; just sharing the truth.
Everything changed two years ago. I used to think I would be living in a three-story house with a swimming pool, enjoying my favorite sweet and sour shrimp made by the maid, and making TikToks with my iPhone instead of sitting here writing this nonsense. But when the cops came and took away all our belongings, I whispered to myself, “Is this what they call the apocalypse?”
Just imagine, if I were invited to a party, that would be my thing, but instead, I’m battling greasy splatters and heaps of laundry daily?! “Huftttttt…”.
However, concurrently, I stumbled upon a deep understanding. I came to see that my mom has always been there since then. She doesn’t get upset when I burn the fish that I fry or make the vegetables too salty. I recognized that even when our family belongings were taken away, they missed the most invaluable treasure. Yes, my mom. My mom’s worth is beyond measure; not even the riches of Elon Musk could compare.
Since Dad has been absent, Mom has proven to be the strongest person I know. It took me 17 years to see this. Imagine, I attended an international school, which she funded for an entire year despite our frozen accounts. Curious about how that was possible? My mom tirelessly searched for work everywhere after Dad was arrested. In the first week, there was no success. I faced bullying at school for being a “people’s money eater” and got cursed at.
Everyone, even my so-called friends, abandoned me. Mom said she didn’t want the name she gave me to go to waste. But as time passed, I felt that the name Valerie didn’t belong to me; it was more fitting for my mom. She never displayed her struggles, even after the world knocked her down countless times, and despite my disappointments. Mom and her struggles were always hidden behind her infinite laughter. Some say she has two faces, but to me, she seems to have a divine spirit, limitless.
Based on this experience, the loss makes us realize the meaning of something we once ignored. If you still have the chance, don’t forget to express your gratitude to your mom! Remember, she is the one who constantly worries about you, even when her heart breaks time and again because of you.
