A Letter to Big Mummy

“Time is very precious” a quote that I never really understood until I heard that heartbreaking news. I’m still in shock and I find it hard to believe that I won’t hear your sweet voice anymore. I remember when we were at your house for a while and you always made sure we were happy, before and after school, your company was always the best…there was never a dull moment with you. You were always watching over us and making sure we were happy, even when we moved to UK you were still looking after me, worried about my school, even when I had that black spot on my lips, and you kept on urging and disturbing my mum to order that lip balm (I still have loads and still use them).
I still imagine you during devotion singing and dancing with your favourite shekere. You are a blessing to each and everyone of us. I love you so much big mummy. This isn’t a goodbye message, this is a message for me to say thank you, to appreciate you for everything, your love, your blessings, your prayers, every single thing. Big mummy was so selfless, she had a wonderful smile, a big heart and she had a positive impact on everybody around her, big mummy was strict but in a nice way, she would always laugh with us, ask me about school and my friends, whenever my mum wants to scold us, she’ll be on our side, and she’ll be like “kora e da soun” I will forever miss that phrase.

When we were at her house for a while, she had this 3 in 1 Cadbury’s ™ hot chocolate, she told us “you’ll like it o, it’s very nice” (I still love it till this day). She wanted us to take it to school in those tumblers, because it was so cold then. She made it her mission to buy one for me, one for Timi and one for Tomisin, we took it to school with bread, butter and sardine. Wonderful times honestly, she even taught me how to make it for myself and my brothers when we went back, she told me to take care of Timilehin.

These memories…instead of making me sad, will make me happy big Mummy, I’ll still sing that song “Grandma big Mummy where are you” that I made for you, because I know you’ll be dancing when you hear it. It may be hard that I’ll never hear “Tam Tam” again, it may be hard that I’ll never hear “I love you my darling” again, but I promise I’m not going to cry anymore, instead I’ll smile and laugh when I think of you and the memories we created together…it was a blessing getting to know you, you were indeed a mother to all. I promise to make you proud big mummy, because I know that is what you would want. Just a reminder this isn’t a goodbye message, I know you’re still with me, I still feel your presence anywhere I go so, my “Grandma big Mummy” see you later.

I love you forever, your Tam-Tam.
Oluwatamilore Idowu