SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

Mrs Majda was quiet and serious at first, but later she said, »You know, I must tell you that I had a wonderful mother-in-law. So good that I could not have wished for a better one.« 

A glow of love and respect lit up her face as she remembered and talked about this woman as a wife and mother. A woman who could be an example to many, especially those who only talk about love and respect.

»I will never forget how lovingly she welcomed me when I arrived at the house. I will never forget her kindness when I came to visit her unannounced one day. It was winter and cold. Only one room in the house was heated, and they stayed there during the day, so they called it the House.

»Mhm, I see. Everywhere else was cold, because they didn't have central heating in those days.«

»Yes, but I slept at their place that night.«

We listened quietly as mice to what this kind-hearted and loving mother-in-law had done.

»You wouldn't think it, but she heated a blanket on the stove and brought it to my cold bed, still warm. She wrapped me in it to keep me warm and I fell asleep peacefully.«

I watched the faces around me and was overwhelmed by the colour of the facial muscles; from seriousness to smiles. Mrs Majda was also silent for a moment, and then she continued, »Do you know what I liked most about her? She never interfered with anyone and she never imposed anything on anyone. Her respect and trust in us was so deep that we felt it. She lived the life of a simple peasant woman. I loved her optimism.«

»I believe. Many, too many, lack the latter today,« I remarked.

At the mention of this, everyone started to laugh, but not for a long time, because our storyteller spoke again: »What I remember most are the merrymaking and the various celebrations and our meetings and conversations. They were never intrusive or patronising, but always respectful.«

»Did your mother go to parties?«, I interrupted the serious conversation.

»No, she didn't, but she was with us anyway.«

»In your minds and hearts you meant it, didn't you?«

»Yes, we went, but my mother stayed at home. We promised her we'd be back at a certain time, and we more or less stuck to our agreement.«

»When you came back, you heard them,« would say the person who always thinks the worst first, but the reality was different. I suppose so," I said, reaching out to her.

»When we returned, she was waiting for us behind the stove. She was sitting on to the headmaster and waited for each of us to say how we had a good time, what new things we learned while talking to friends, how we danced... You see, we weren't always together, so each of us said something different. Each in his own way. Something interesting happened to everyone, so we laughed out loud and made our mother so happy that she was beaming with happiness and pride.«

»To have children like that? Is that what you meant?«

»Yes, that's what I thought and still think. I have kept her in my memory as I presented her to you: a cheerful, happy and proud mother and mother-in-law,« concluded the lively lady of the 1980s, remembering her.

Darinka Kobal, 12. 2. 2026