The place where the flame of love is kept alive.

For many people, cooking is hard work, a chore of thinking about what to eat today and what to cook tomorrow. But for me, cooking is a daily joy. I love the feeling of standing in my familiar kitchen, listening to the rice simmering, smelling the fragrant fried onions spreading throughout the house, mingling with the aroma of braised meat and fried fish. These seemingly simple things bring me an unusual sense of peace, knowing that this meal will be filled with love for the whole family.

Báo Đồng Nai•30/10/2025

I still vividly remember the first feeling of becoming a mother, and from that moment on, all my priorities changed. I became more meticulous, more patient, and more sensitive to my child's every gesture. After a long time caring for my child, I went back to work and always tried to finish early so I could go home, just hoping to hear her say, "Mommy, what are we having for dinner today?" It was a small question, but for me, it was a source of immense happiness.

On days when I finish work late, I still stop by the market at the end of the street to choose a bunch of fresh vegetables, some shrimp, and fish to cook a hearty family meal. Just thinking about the whole family gathered around the table, listening to the children's joyful laughter, makes all my fatigue disappear. My small kitchen then transforms into a place filled with love – a place where I pour out my care and the whole heart of a mother and wife.

When I was young, I used to think happiness had to be something grand. But as I grew older, I realized that happiness is actually very simple. It could be a warm meal in our small kitchen, the sound of my husband gently saying, "The soup is delicious today," the sparkle in my child's eyes when I give them another piece of meat, or the moment when the whole family sits together happily...

My kitchen isn't big, and the furnishings aren't fancy, but it's a place that witnesses so much love being nurtured every day. I love the feeling of washing each bunch of vegetables by hand, seasoning them, watching the soup simmer... The sizzling sound of oil in the pan, the aroma of perfectly fried onions, I feel my heart calm down. Amidst the pressures, deadlines, and stressful meetings, just hearing the sound of rice boiling lets me know I've returned to my loving home.

Now that I'm a mother, I understand more about the hardships and simple joys my mother once gathered every day. Every time I cook, I remember my mother's figure hunched over the stove, her thin but skillful hands, her gentle voice advising: "Whatever you cook, you must put your heart into it, my child. Delicious food isn't just about the taste, but also about the love in it." Those words have stayed with me until now. Perhaps that's why every dish I cook is a way of expressing my love – not just for my husband and children, but also for myself.

Many people ask me, "You're so busy, why do you still enjoy cooking?" and I just smile. Because for me, cooking isn't just a job, it's a way to show love, to keep the flame of family alive. As the children grow up, and my husband sometimes gets tired from work, the home-cooked meal remains a place where everyone returns, a place to wash away worries, a place where we can be ourselves, without hiding our smiles or tears.

Once, my daughter wrote in her little diary: "What I love most is the smell of Mom's cooking, because it makes me feel safe." I read it and tears welled up in my eyes. It turns out that happiness isn't far away; it's enough when the people we love feel at peace in this very home.

At night, the kitchen was quiet, only the yellow light flickering on the walls. I poured myself a cup of tea, silently listening to the house in the breath of the late night. Outside, life was still hectic, with so many things left undone, but in this moment, I felt truly rich. Rich because I was still loved, cared for, and able to cook warm meals for the people I cherish. Rich because my mother was still far away in the countryside, always reminding me when she called: "Take care of your health, don't overwork yourself, and remember to eat your meals on time."

It turns out that being a mother is like this: busy but happy, hard work but full of love, a time when you find joy in the seemingly simplest things. Amidst the relentless pace of life, the small kitchen remains the hearth, where happiness is kindled from the soup, the rice, and the laughter that spreads throughout the home.

Because, after all, a mother's happiness is sometimes simply seeing her family sitting together, eating, laughing, and listening to her child's soft whispers:
"Mom, our home-cooked meal is so delicious."

Comment (0)