My Childhood 

Shortly after I was born, my parents left me with my aunt. They visited me on weekends only. So naturally I wasn’t close to them. To me, It has always been my aunt, to me, my aunt was my mum.

When I was 5, my parents decided to bring me home (beats me why they took 5yrs to come to that decision). Hated those days, ‘cos it really felt like living with strangers, cried all the time.

2yrs later my sister was born…thought I had a playmate? NO! I had a burden, at the age of 7, I had to learn how to take care of her, a tiny baby that knows nothing but cry & poopoo all the time.

Why? Mum was a habitual gambler, so she normally disappears for her mahjong sessions; dad was holding 3 jobs, he was hardly at home. The gambling problem grew into bigger problem - violence. Whenever the 2 adults meet, quarrels and violence doesn’t stop till my mum leaves the house and sneek back into the house at wee hours in the morning.

Tried sending her and my dad for counselling over many years but failed. Locked her in the house … failed.

Naturally, it resulted into frequent visits from “loan sharks”….I guess that was the peak of all the problems. My dad had heart problems all along. Ever since the “loan sharks” started their pursuit for about 2 years, my dad’s heart couldn’t take it any longer, he passed away at the age of 54.

My husband and I came up with a plan to help my mum settle her S$50,000 loan + interest from 8 loan sharks and countless friends and relatives; on the agreement that she will stop her gambling or my sister and myself will ‘disown’ her. We believe that it would be the last thing that any mum would want.

But we were wrong. She was so addicted that even her love for her children couldn’t overcome the love of the tiles on the mahjong table. Yes….we left her. Never kept in contact with her till last year (2006) when we received a phone call from the hospital. She passed away at the age of 59.

Since young, getting money has been a struggle, so I started to give tuition at the age of 13. Had a great opportunity to help out in a Child Care Centre for three years. Learnt many great tips on handling children effectively. Have been practising those tactics on every kid that I came across, it works!

So from young, I made a decision! I will do my best to give my kids the attention they need,never to let them feel unloved. Don’t get me wrong, I do not believe in ’spoiling’ children. There is always a limit set for misbehaviour.

Now I am 30, happily married for 7yrs with 2 smart boys KeatKeat and BinBin. By spending time with them everyday, I learn new ways (on top of what I learn previously) on making my parenting life an enjoyable one.
Thank u for reading. Wishing u & your family health, wealth & happiness always.

Go read up other stuff about me in My Profile, if you can’t get enough of me *wink*