All about our mothers

In advance of Mother's Day, Life rounds up everything you need to treat your mum, from gadgets and apps to music and movies

Little Monster

For new mums, old mums or children alike, Little Monster is one of the most popular Facebook pages dedicated to sharing stories and experiences of motherhood. Founded four years ago by a mother of two, Nirutchaya Karunwongwat, the page now has over 1.5 million followers.

Nirutchaya, now 38, first created the page as an antidote to her postpartum depression -- a mood disorder that affects women after delivery.

"I didn't plan to make it big," recalled Nirutchaya of how Little Monster came about. "I like drawing, so I decided to draw and express what I feel in the form of an online diary as a cure to my post-delivery depression."

Little Monster is known for its cute cartoon drawings accompanied by funny text telling the experiences of new mothers. Nirutchaya created them herself using computer programmes. Feedback, according to her, has been beyond expectation.

Following the page's popularity, Little Monster Line sticker sets have been released. Nirutchaya is also founder of A Mom 2 Daughters, a Facebook page featuring useful parenting dos and don'ts.

Visit www.facebook.com/littlemonsterrocknroll

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Manood Mae Luke On

Founded last year, Manood Mae Luke On is designed to mirror the feelings of all mothers, who, according to the page, "have to be strong for the sake of the kids".

The page takes a funny, catchy approach to motherly experiences, presenting them in cartoons and short text. Content is created from the belief that new mothers are the strongest women.

The page also features useful parenting techniques, such as how to store breast milk, expressions that mothers should not use with kids, and so forth.

Manood Mae Luke On now has over 33,000 followers on Facebook. The page also has a Line sticker set available.

Visit www.facebook.com/Mymom.strong

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Manood Luke

Manood Luke, a Facebook page designed for new parents to share tips and experiences, just celebrated its first anniversary earlier this month. The page serves as a community where the like-minded can get stories presented in a light-hearted rather than serious manner.

Mother of a one-year-old boy and the founder of Manood Luke, Latsakorn Timsuvan said the only time of day when she can create content is when her kid is sleeping.

"Drawing takes a lot of time, so I have to wait until my boy goes to sleep to produce content," said Latsakorn. "When my kid falls ill, it means no more new posts during that time."

While the page is more commercial than Little Monster and Manood Mae Luke On, Manood Luke still offers fun and interesting reads, especially for new mothers trying to get through the day and trying to give children their best. Parenting insights usually come from Latsakorn herself, as well as her husband Tinnakan Lohsisupachai, who helps with gags.

"There are many aspects of being a mother," she added. "Motherhood is fun but at the same time sad, stressful and confused. A lot of mothers suffer due to the difficulties of raising a child. So I wish to share my experiences in a hilarious way rather than sweet and emotional, so other mothers feel encouraged after reading about drama they also encounter."

Manood Luke now has almost 195,000 followers on Facebook.

Visit www.facebook.com/manoodluke

-- Arusa Pisuthipan

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Mother's Day Music

Value Of Breast Milk

The mother of all Mother's Day songs, Kha Nam Nom (Value Of Breast Milk) was released in 1949 and is to date the most-played song in August, no contest.

Written by luk thung maestro Paiboon Butkhan, the ballad asks its listeners to ponder and be grateful for all their mothers have done, especially in raising them with the milk from her own bosom.

Love On Top

It was at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2011 when Beyoncé revealed her baby bump at the end of her performance of the happy tune Love On Top. The crowd went wild for Queen B's surprise announcement of her first child with Jay Z. And from then on we have this love song as a reminder of that moment, to revel in a mother's pride and joy.

"Come on, baby, it's you/ You're the one that gives your all/ You're the one I can always call," crooned Beyoncé during the chorus.

This is a cute song to send your mother tomorrow if you don't want things to get too teary and sentimental.

Mother

No, this is not the emotional ballad Mae (Mother) by rocker Sek Loso. This Mother is from rock band Kala, and delves into the frustrations of a child with a mother who has high expectations of him when it comes to studying.

"Ma said if I pass my exam/ She'd buy me a new CD player, or new shoes, watch, clothes/ Anything I want/ I could get all these rewards if only she'd help me/ I'm reading my textbook and her telly is just so noisy," go the lyrics.

In nu-metal style, the chorus goes screaming: "Ma! Ma! Can you turn off the TV, Ma?"

We're not making this up. Seriously.

Bohemian Rhapsody

"Mama, just killed a man," is probably not the best thing to tell your mother this coming Mother's Day.

Still, this legendary track by Queen serves ever as a reminder that mother is usually the person we think of when the going gets tough. We look to her when we face troubles in life. Oh, mama, what would we do without you?

It's time to shower her with love and affection. And if your mum's a fan, a card that comes with a cartoon version of Freddie Mercury shouting "Mama!" may just put a smile on her face.

An Essay About Mother

While the majority of songs about mums may revolve around appreciation and gratefulness, Riang Kwarm Rueang Mae (An Essay About Mother) brings to light another side of Mother's Day, telling the story of those who've never shared a memory with the lady who gave birth to them.

"If you're listening/ No matter where or who you are/ Please send your love back here/ If you're listening, Mum, please think of me/ I promise to be your good child," goes the tear-jerking chorus.

What makes this tune the most heartbreaking Mother's Day song of all is that it's not sung by professional artists, but by children from orphanages and shelters in Bangkok.

-- Melalin Mahavongtrakul

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Mom Apps and Gadgets

Pomo Bebe Wearable Monitor and R2 Smartwatch

One of the hardest things for any new mother is the thought of having to let her precious little babies out of their sight. Lucky for them, Pomo is offering these smart wearable devices for babies and toddlers, so you can keep an eye on your child from anywhere in your home. For young babies, the Pomo Bebe (2,000 baht) is a circular rubber clip you put on the collar of your toddler's shirt. The clip measures your child's body temperature, while notifying you by phone whenever there is a shift in the body temperature of your child, or the temperature of the room around them (for when they accidentally kick off their blankets or have a fever). The device can also be used to determine the temperature of bottled milk, or even track your child's sleeping patterns. Older toddlers who can walk can also have their locations tracked through the clip. The device works through low-energy Bluetooth, which is proven to be completely safe for babies.

For older children, the Pomo R2 Smartwatch (4,000 Baht) offers a fun way for parents to keep in contact with their children with voice calls and messaging. The watch also lets parents track their child's location, while sending notifications via the connected app whenever your child arrives at school or at home.

For more information, or to make a purchase, visit www.pomohouse.com. If you prefer to visit a physical store, use the site's live-chat function to ask for locations.

D-Link Cloud Baby Camera (DCS-825L)

This 1280x720P Wi-Fi connected camera lets you look in on your child from anywhere, anytime. But more than that, this camera is also fitted with a host of sensors that can alert you to everything that is happening in your child's room, even when you're not looking. The motion sensor will alert you whenever there is movement in the room, while the sound sensor will let you know when your child is up and crying. The built-in thermometer can also be set to alert you whenever it gets too warm or cold. If you need to comfort your child remotely, the camera also features five different lullabies, as well as two-way microphones that allow you to talk to your child through the camera. Each one costs about 4,600 baht, and can be found at www.jib.co.th (or one of its many retail stores).

KidDiary App

This app was developed by the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, in collaboration with paediatricians, nutritionists and developmental experts. Applicable to children up to 18 years old, the app allows parents to enter information about their children -- age, height, weight, vaccination dates, etc -- in order to assess their development. The app will then compare that information with statistics gathered by the Department of Health, before telling you how your child's development compares to others of the same age. The app can also help notify parents on recommended vaccinations, or even recommend a doctor should the child's metrics fall too far behind. (For iOS and Android.)

Class Dojo

Class Dojo is an app that allows parents to stay up-to-date on their children's schoolwork by connecting them to teachers. Teachers can upload their lesson plans, assignments and test reminders to parents beforehand, allowing them to be better informed of their child's academic performance. Class Dojo also lets teachers share positive classroom moments with parents, creating a more encouraging atmosphere for students. The app also allows teachers to easily manage their students individually, with additional helpful tools like group randomises (for group projects) or a timer for quizzes. Mothers who want to get more involved with their children's school lives should definitely recommend this app to their child's teachers. (For iOS and Android.)

--Kanin Srimaneekulroj

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Make Way For Tomorrow (1937)

Expected motherly reaction: Weeping, lump in throat

This is probably one of the most heartbreaking films ever made, and it was long forgotten until the DVD release in the 2000s. Directed by Leo McCarey, the film tells the story of an elderly couple who's been living together for half a century. When the bank takes their home, they turn to their five grown-up children for help. But none are willing to take their parents in to live with them — not out of cruelty or ungratefulness, but because sometimes that's the way life is. This is a film of such heartfelt emotion and pure sentiments that it'll make you want to hold your parents so tightly and not let them go.

Mother (2009)

Expected motherly reaction: Suicidal rage

This South Korean film is a revenge thriller in which an elderly mother takes on the task of a savage detective to uncover a murder mystery. Directed by Bong Joon-ho (Okja, The Host), Mother stars Kim Hye-jae as the mother, a herbal doctor and acupuncturist, whose intellectually disabled son is wrongly accused of a schoolgirl's murder in a rural town. Driven by maniacal love and dogged persistence, the mad-eyed mom is ready to confront any enemies and redeem her son from injustice. The film shows how far, how bloodily, how maddeningly a mother will go to protect her child from the brutality of the world.

Klong Khao Noi Ka Mae (The Little Lunchbox That Kills Mother; 1980)

Expected motherly reaction: Unfathomable sadness

This film is based on a northeastern folk fable in which a young man who's been working hard in the field becomes angry when his mother turns up late to deliver his lunch box. When she arrives with a small lunch box, his temper flares and he hits her with a plough, killing her on the spot. The man comes to his senses and pleads for forgiveness, but his fury has already dealt a matricidal blow. The directness of the message — and the physical violence against the mother — can be quite shocking, but this remains a popular tale whose title — Klong Khao Noi Ka Mae — has become a playful, colloquial phrase meaning a person who gets angry because of hunger.

Under The Shadow (2016)

Expected motherly reaction: Terrifyingly entertained

This British-Iranian film from last year is a horror story set during the Iran-Iraq war. Shideh is a young mother who lives with her daughter in an apartment after her husband has been drafted to fight. Shut in the building where everyone else has moved out, the mother and daughter are terrorised by djinn, something akin to a malevolent spirit in Islam. The pressure of religious police and social repression compound the psychological terror felt by Shideh as she's consumed by fear, and protective instinct when the unseen force threatens to take away her child. Available on Netflix.

Psycho (1960)

Expected motherly reaction: Why did you show this to me?

If your mother has a wicked sense of humour, nothing should please her more than a screening of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, preferably in the living room where the whole family can enjoy this perverse spectacle together. Spoiler alert! (57 years after the film came out): a mother-son relationship has never been (or ever will be) this twisted, murderous and Freudian as Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) stalks his guests from the windows of that Gothic house overlooking a creepy highway motel, when he's not tending to his sick mum. Cue Bernard Hermann's screeching score and the murder in the shower, as the id-ego-superego of human personality manifests itself in the most bizarre fashion.