This week, we share stories and interviews in praise of hard working moms everywhere. The month of May always has me thinking about my mother… and donuts. Two years ago, my mom and my other Filipino moms started a side hustle selling mini donuts at our hometown’s farmer’s market under the name Yay! Donuts. It’s a total mom-driven enterprise and it’s a big hit, with lines down the sidewalk each Saturday. Every time I drive home to help out, I’m always astounded by the work they put in. Long nights prepping ingredients, early mornings setting up the tents, and greeting every customer with a bright welcoming smile despite the five hours of sleep. And squeezing icing onto donuts is not easy on the hands.
My mom taught me a special way to massage tired hands after a long day. Whenever she asks “Kuya, can you hilot me?” I take her hands and I press my thumbs into her palms, slowly working my way up to the fingers. Her hands feel so different from mine, so rough and calloused. Probably from all the hard work that was taught to her by her mother growing up in the Philippines. I’ll massage her hands until my own start to cramp up, and then she’ll do the same to me. You can never fully repay your mother, but I would make a million donuts and give a million hand massages just for her. I hope every mother had a restful Mothers’ Day weekend.
– Angelo