The mother-child bond is one that can be hard to put into words. How do you describe the fiercely protective tug a mother feels the moment she first lays eyes upon her baby, or the way her universe shifts to make way for the kind of love she has never felt before? Mother Nature herself reflects the visceral quality of the maternal instinct: from the vast, endless expanse of the sky to the abundant ebbs and flows of the ocean, we are surrounded by expressions of the affinity a mother shares with her child.
And yet there’s no one way to be a mother. Every woman’s relationship with parenthood differs—but some things remain constant. Nutrition, for example, ranks high on every priority list.While breastmilk is often the best choice, not every mother can breastfeed after the child turns 1 year of age. Thankfully, quality formula milk can then serve as key supplement for your child’s early development, especially one imbued with the unique combination of sn-2 Palmitate and A2 β-casein, like illuma’s Growing-Up Formula Milk Powder.
But beyond the tangible arena of physical growth, mothers also deeply shape the way their children develop emotionally and psychologically. Much of a child’s values and beliefs come from their mother—she is after all, their first role model and their earliest best friend. Here, three Singaporean mothers open up about their personal motherhood journeys, the place nature holds in their lives, and the values they want to pass on to their children.
Wang Wanting with son Christian, 2 years old
For high-powered banker and digital creator Wang Wanting, the vastness of the sky represents one important value she wants to impart to her son—the Power to Dream.
What has your motherhood journey been like so far?
It has been a really pleasant journey so far. I have the help of my parents and in-laws, which I am grateful for. I spend a lot more time focusing on his mental health and education. I also focus a lot on joy. I think the most important thing for a growing kid is to feel happy. It’s been amazing just watching him grow. He’s my first child, so the amount of happiness I felt from hearing his first words took me by surprise.
What are your favourite moments in your day to day life with Christian?
My favourite time of the day is actually right before he sleeps. We’ll spend a fair bit of time talking—often, I don’t exactly know what he’s talking about. But when he puts his arms around my neck, and I feel the strength of the love he has for me, it’s such a special, unique feeling. The affinity I feel in that moment… it’s hard to describe.
How do you and Christian like to enjoy nature? What kind of relationship does your family have with nature?
We take every opportunity to bring him out for walks. Christian is a super energetic and curious boy, and given that we are stuck at home because of COVID-19, we frequently spend our evenings roaming around parks and areas heavy with nature. He loves exploring the great big outdoors, and we are glad to get him some fresh air and help him understand that the world is bigger than the television or the iPad. He gets so excited every time we say, “Hey, let’s go out and explore”.
What are some values that you think are important for Christian to have as he grows?
I want Christian to know that the sky is the limit. Being curious, wanting to explore different things—these are traits that are important to me. I want him to love what he does. Even if he faces failure, it doesn’t matter. Success looks different for everyone—some people reach it in their 20s, some in their 30s, some older.
How do you cultivate these traits in Christian and stimulate his curiosity?
His mental health is very important to me. I thought I was going to be a tiger mum, but I have taken such different approach with him. I don’t force my ideas on him; it’s vital to me that he feels safe enough to try things. I create an environment at home where’s free to explore, without fear of failure or getting scolded. When he does something wrong, we don’t scold him or shout at him. We explain why it was wrong, and what the consequences are. Eventually, he learns to tell right from wrong on his own, and he doesn’t develop a fear of trying new things.
Sharon Tang with daughter Scarlett and son Sovereign, both 19 months old
Homemaker and content creator Sharon Tang looks to flora and fauna—the jewels of nature—to enrich her twins with the Power to Nurture and cultivate strong relationships throughout their lives.
What has your motherhood journey been like so far?
It’s been incredibly fulfilling. The kind of happiness which I get from watching them grow is something that I don’t think anything material can replace. I thank God everyday for them. The bond between them is unbreakable; they each have a constant companion to grow up with.
Have there been any challenges that you faced with having twins?
The only downside comes when both of them are in a cranky mood. They can’t really express themselves at this point, so when one of them cries, the second will follow. We are still learning how to manage that.
What are your favourite moments in your day to day life with the twins?
The best moment in my day is when I pick them up from class. When the glass door opens, they just start jumping up and down, calling for me excitedly. They get so hysterical and are as happy to see me as I am to see them.
How do you and twins like to enjoy nature?
We love spending time outdoors. I bring them to the playground often, and I make sure they have an outdoor, nature-focused component even in the classes I choose. I feel that they tend to be more engaged outdoors and their personalities grow in different ways. They love looking at flowers, plants and animals. They love to try and name everything they see.
As the twins continue to grow, what are some values that you think are important for them to have?
I want them to learn to be kind and empathetic to everyone around them, and learn how to cultivate strong relationships. It’s very important to me that they learn not to judge anyone. Helping people around them however they can, and of course—loving God.
How do you cultivate these traits in the twins?
We make sure not to spoil them. We want them to have everything they need, but not everything they want. They need to know that money isn’t the most important thing in the world, but true joy comes from helping other people and being kind.
Lucinda Zhou with daughter Luella, 2 years old
Drawing from the ever-changing beauty of the ocean, entrepreneur Lucinda Zhou wants to bestow upon her daughter the Power to Conquer any situation she is in by remaining flexible and adaptable.
What has your motherhood journey been like so far?
I would say it has been incredibly fulfilling. And it’s definitely a lot of hard work. Luella surprises me every day with the new things she learns. I didn’t expect this—but as a parent, I’m learning new things every day too. There are different challenges, but I’m looking forward to the other surprises that come my way as we move forward.
What are your favourite moments in your day to day life with Luella?
She recently started attending school, so I try to spend time with her in the morning before she leaves. I love getting her out of bed, spending time with her brushing her teeth and getting her ready. I also enjoy tucking her into bed at night. We’ll talk, and she’ll share with me everything she learnt in school. That period of time is very meaningful to me, because I don’t get to see her most of the day.
How has the change of her starting to go to school been for you?
Initially, I was very hesitant. Most kids in Singapore start going to school when they are around 18 months old, but I waited till she was nearly two, before I knew it was time. She was ready to make new friends; she is quite sociable. She still cries a little at drop-off, her ideal scenario would be her dad and I attending school with her. But she’s learning well and I know she’s in good hands. Previously, my parents and in-laws would take turns taking care of her during the day, when my husband and I were both working. That must have been tiring for them, so I’m glad they have some time now to rest.
How do you and Luella enjoy nature? Tell us about her fascination with water.
She clearly enjoys the outdoors and looks forward to outdoor play in school. But most of all, she loves water play. It’s most evident when she’s having a bath. She usually gets so comfortable in the bathtub that she doesn’t want to get out. She seems completely at peace when she’s in the water; I think it calms her down.
What are some values that you think are important for Luella to have as she grows?
Independence and adaptability are two very important things for me. School is a new environment for her, but she’s willing to open up, make new friends and do things on her own. She’s willing to rely on her teachers instead of just her parents. I’m very proud of her for that. Being flexible and being able to adapt to different situations are important traits that I think will help her once she’s older, in the workplace, in school, in building relationships.
How do you try t0 cultivate these traits in Luella?
I place emphasis on exposing her to different things in life. The point is to let her try. If she’s afraid, I will be there with her. If she likes it, I will expose her more. I try not to force her to do things that she doesn’t want to do. But if it’s a necessity—let’s say going to school—we’ll introduce it slowly and let her adapt. We don’t want to stress her out, but we want her to learn how to appreciate different things.
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