The way Nigerian mums hide money for 'soup' will make you cry from laughter

I went to visit my mother in Aba last weekend. She is 58 years old, retired, living peacefully. But I noticed she kept disappearing into the kitchen every time I mentioned rent or school fees for my sister. Omo, I didn't ask her for anything o. I just said 'Mama, things are tight in Aba right now.'

She looked at me, adjusted her wrapper, and said, 'Kola, I have not seen my purse since Thursday. Your father must have taken it for his spare parts business. I am even borrowing soup from Mama Nkechi next door.' Chai. This is the same woman who last month bought a full set of Ankara for my aunt's wedding and paid cash. She has money. She just doesn't want me to know. My father told me later that she has three different hiding spots in the house , under the mattress, inside an old garri sack, and behind the fridge. She calls it 'soup money' but we all know it's her emergency fund.

Nigerian mothers are the original financial experts. They have mastered the art of looking broke while secretly holding the family together. I am still laughing thinking about how she said she is 'borrowing soup' while her handbag probably has cash for a small car. God bless them. Who else's mother does this?