Three Simple Words

Today being Mother's Day, there were a few moms carrying roses, or others with bouquets rushing to meet mummy dearest.

This day is now slowly being commercialized here in Beijing, though you still can't find Mother's Day cards, so I had to make do with one that said "I love you".

That said, a recent article in the China Daily says the Chinese still find it difficult to say "I love you" to their mothers.

A poll conducted by job-hunting website Zhaopin.com says 74.6 percent of some 6,000 respondents said they knew their mothers' birthday, but only 25.5 percent would actually say "I love you" to her directly.

Zhaopin.com says "This figure suggests mothers occupy an important place in most participants' minds. Yet many people still find it 'embarassing' to express their affection."

"I do love my mother deeply, but I have never said 'I love you' that often. It just feels quite weird for me to say it to her in person," said Stella Wang, a 27-year-old office worker, noting that she prefers to express her feelings in writing in birthday or Christmas cards.

"I have to say that it's difficult for me to express my love for my mother," says Liang Hao, a 32-year-old engineer. "I think if I did say it aloud, it might confuse her."

What's so confusing about saying those three words to the woman who gave birth to you?

Perhaps for Chinese, I love you has a more amorous context than familial one. But can't it have a similar meaning to show our appreciation and love for what our mothers have done for us our entire lives?

They may be three simple words, but they mean alot.

There's no time like the present. Altogether now -- I love you, mom.

See, it wasn't so bad, was it?