Hmmmmmmm this is the second most difficult tribute I’ve had to write in my life.
Where do I start from? Do I start from you being so nice and friendly when I was just a friend to Afeeze? Or having my corner when we started dating? To visiting me every day in Chadwell Heath when I lost my Mum? To telling me you’d try your best to fill my Mum’s shoes? To taking on my siblings as your own children? To following me on hospital visits for the children? To constantly cooking traditional food for me, whilst I made you your lovely English meals? To looking after my children? To video calling me every other day (at least 3 missed calls at a go, just in case the first 2 calls didn’t go through)? To sharing your experiences with me (about motherhood, marriage, love, in-laws, relatives, your living in England and Ikeja days)? The list goes on and on.
Each passing year into my marriage we grew to know, love and respect each other more and more (Yes you’re older but you still gave everyone their respect).
You showed me true “Mum in love” characteristics - we laughed together, we gisted together, we argued, we cried together, we cooked together, we watched our series together.
This is so painful for me to write that I can’t stop crying, I can hear you telling me not to write anymore because it’s upsetting me. That was you all over... very selfless, even till the end. I remember telling you once to think of yourself for a change but you said “ Yemi ma jẹ ki wọn ni nkankan lati mu dani”
Mummy!! You put the P in patience.. I’ve learnt a lot from you.
I miss you so much... who would call us and the kids first thing in the morning on our birthdays and pray for us?
Everyone close to me knows you, you remember all my friends names and ask after them one by one every time.
You made sure we all stayed close as a family, don’t worry you (and God) made that foundation solid.
I promise to look after your darling Afeeze for you as best as I can. I know I can’t measure up to you but going by what I’ve learnt from you for the past 20 years, I’m certainly heading in the right direction.
To know you is to love you, you broke that “Mother in law” cliche... you’re a gem, a rare gem ( it’s hard to talk about you in past tense because you’d forever be alive in my heart).
Rest well Mummy, you deserve to rest now.
Love you loads Mummy.
Your darling daughter, Yem Yem.
Yemi Lasisi