My mother is a bit of a diva. She has admitted this before, and the reason for this is that she used to be a beauty queen when she was growing up in South Korea. She never divulged this information until I was a pimply-faced teenager that was awkwardly trying to fit at school. I remember thinking, “Geez, why didn’t I get your genes? I look like Dad.” (No offense, Dad!)
Here’s a pic of her in her heyday…

Anyway, she told me that she wished that she had focused more on academics and other scholastic endeavors instead of being really into her looks. Oh, and she completely forgot to tell me of her talents as a calligraphy artist which she never got a chance to hone until she reached her mid 50′s. She rarely did anything for herself while raising myself and my brother and never indulged in expensive clothing, trips, or all the other things that most Korean moms do for themselves.

We didn’t have much money growing up and it was pretty bad when I was in high school. We couldn’t afford things and I just remember incidents when people were just so mean because we didn’t have nice things. We had this about-to-break-down-minivan that our church donated to us and I would ask her to drop me off a block away from the school entrance so no one would know that I had emerged from that vehicle. There was this annoying kid who used to taunt me and I wanted to die when he mentioned my ghetto minivan during class. But then…I came up with this witty retort and everyone laughed. I loved that. The fact that if you’re funny, witty, or can make a good joke, you can make everyone forget about a crappy situation. Including yourself, you know?

Throughout all the hardships when my Mother has driven me nuts, nagged, and annoyed me, it never took away from how much I love her and appreciate all that she’s done for me and my family. When I see her artwork now, I’m just so proud of her coming into her own as an artist. I remember the day I told her that I was pursuing all my creative endeavors and she sort of shook her head and was like, “Are you kidding me?” LOL. Now, she’s come around. Sort of. (Deep down, she wishes that I secretly want to be a Harvard lawyer/doctor combo and that I’m not the actual right-brained freak that I am)

Anyway, here are my favorites of her calligraphy pieces. Aren’t they just fabulous?

Its weird…my mom’s perfect day is her being in an art studio, just painting all day. Mine is to be in an a recording studio, just recording songs all day. Ugh. Is it true that you actually turn into your mother? Ah!!!

And this is the longest post of my life, but here’s the most gorgeously delicious song by Boyz II Men, “A Song for Mama.” Happy Mother’s Day!

(Note: This post was written for a male audience from a guy website I used to write for.  Just FYI.)

Mother’s Day is on the horizon and though you may be a tough guy, we all know that when you visit your Mother, you turn into a kid again as she asks you, “Honey, are you eating enough?” or “Sweetheart, Lucky Charms is not a food group!” Or maybe she still embarrasses you out in public by asking you personal questions at the supermarket.

As annoying as her prying questions can be, your Mother will always be the woman who may have made you your favorite dinners, told you it was okay when you were benched in a Little League game, or if you got your heart broken by “the One.” So, on this day, instead of getting her the usual flowers and candy, why not get her things that she REALLY wants?

Beauty Products/Treatments

Moms love to be pampered and she definitely deserves it! Also, tons of day spas have Mother’s Day specials so that you can get her things like facials, manicures, pedicures, and beauty products. These are things that she actually uses and probably loves, so take note.

Hobby Related Gifts

Perhaps your mother likes horseback-riding, collects antiques, or likes to create oil paintings. Getting her a gift related to her actual likes is a huge bonus and will show her that you took the time out to get her something that she actually cares about. This is a good way to bring your Mother to tears.

Photographic Proof That You Care For Yourself

One of my best guy friends used to take pictures of his dorm room and send them to his mother who was always calling him to make sure he did things like eat and do his laundry. He would always be like, “Dude, I forgot to eat.” (I wish I had this problem) Anyway, I thought it was a genius idea to take pictures of your daily life and send it to your Mother who is probably still missing her little kid. (Even if you’re all grown up now) So, why not just take some pics, create a digital photo album and send it to her, along with a personalized card.

Giftcards

This is a no-brainer, but an excellent and very useful gift. Whether she’s more of a Barnes and Noble type or prefers clothing, your mother will love this gift because she can actually use it.

Quit the Things That You Know She Hates You Doing

Now, most mothers nag, though they don’t see it that way. To them, their constant ways of bringing up subjects that you don’t want to talk about, show that they care and love you. Maybe she wants you to quit smoking weed or cigarettes or maybe she wants you to be more responsible. Or maybe she wants you to cut off your dreads. Whatever it is, think of a creative way to show her that you’ve actually tried to do this for her. Your mother will absolutely love you for it.

Now, you can completely discount my advice, but I’ve seen these gifts work for my brother, my ex-boyfriends and other guys in my life. So… why not try it this year? If not, there’s always those dudes who sell flowers on your local street corner on Mother’s Day morning.

Hope you all had a happy Mother’s Day! For all you Moms, Wives, and Grandmothers out there, have a blessed day. My Mom is in Korea right now, but if you’re reading this Mom, love you!
My Mom hated when I would blast hip-hop music in the car and we’d argue over which station to listen to. She prefers Mozart and I was like, POWER 99 FM! (This is the hip hop station in Philly)

This is her favorite track:

My mother, Crystal Ahn, is an artist, to the core. She used to be a beauty queen while growing up in Pusan, South Korea and had six sisters. Isn’t that crazy? Anyway, she’s always had a very artistic visual sense about her and I never really knew so much about this side of her until I became an adult. And even though my family has recently experienced tough Financial times, my mother ended up getting a scholarship to study calligraphy at a University in Korea.

She’s there right now and will graduate next year. All she does is draw and paint with her classmates all day, and mind you, most of her classmates are a lot younger. But her teacher says she’s one of the most talented people she’s ever met. She endured a lot of hardship throughout her life and while raising my brother and myself, mostly because she’s an Artist that had to give up her dream to raise us.

In Korean culture, art isn’t really valued so much as are things such as being in professions such as Business, Law, Economics or the Sciences. Maybe this is why I never really excelled at the Sciences or Math. She’s also the woman who gave up things so that we could go to various camps, schools, and anything Educational.

Mom, if you’re reading this, I just want to say how much I love you and how proud of you I am. I hope that you graduate at the top of your class and I’m glad that you’re finally pursuing your artistic visions and talents.

Love, Seung Min (This is my Korean name

내 어머니, 크리스탈 안정환, 예술가, 핵심입니다. 반면 부산, 한국에서 자라는 여섯 자매했다 그녀는 아름다움의 여왕이되기로 사용합니다. 저 미친 아닌 가요? 어쨌든, 그녀는 항상 대해 매우 예술적인 영상 감각을 지녔다고 때까지 난 성인이 된 그녀와 그녀의이 측면에 대해별로 몰랐어요. 그리고 비록 힘든 경험이있는 우리 가족은 최근 파이낸셜 타임스는, 나의 어머니는 대학에서 장학금을 받고 한국에서 서예 공부를 마무리했다.

그녀는 거기에 지금과 의지로 내년 졸업. 무승부입니다 않는 그녀와 그녀의 학급 친구들과 하루 종일 페인트, 그리고 당신의 마음, 그녀의 급우의 젊은 가장 많이있습니다. 하지만 그녀의 선생님은 그녀가 한 번도 만난 그녀는 가장 재능있는 사람들이있다. 그녀는 그녀의 생활 내내 많은 고난을 견디고있는 동안의 내 동생을 제기하고 자신을, 대부분 우리가 인상 때문에 그녀는 자신의 꿈을 포기했던 아티스트의.

한국의 문화, 예술 등 정말 많은 것들 비즈니스, 법학, 경제학이나 과학 등 전문직에있는 가치는 아니다. 그래서 내가 정말 과학이나 수학에 뛰어 적이 아마이있다. 그녀도 그렇게 우리가 각종 캠프, 학교, 그리고 교육 갈 수있는 건 아무것도 포기 여자에요.

엄마, 당신이 이걸 읽는다면, 난 그냥 내가 얼마나 당신을 사랑하는 방법을 당신의 나는 자랑스럽게 말하고 싶습니다. 난 당신 클래스의 상단에 희망을 졸업하고 난 당신이 결국 당신 예술적 비전과 재능을 추구하고있어서 기뻐요.

Some of her paintings:

A Picture she took a Zuma beach in Malibu. She was running around taking pictures and I had to run after her. I was like, “Geez mom, you’re a sprinter.”

Love you mom! Oops and here’s one of my Mom’s favorite musical pieces. (She hates hip-hop, but LOVES classical music)