TL;DR – Be kind, be good.
Dear future daughter,
I haven’t met you yet, but there are a few things I would like to tell you.
The world is flawed.
Unlike when you’re in my womb, where it’s safe and warm, where the temperature is constant, and noise is muffled, the outside world can be a scary place.
As you come into this world, know that it is not always going to be a smooth ride.
And right now, as I’m writing this to you, Hong Kong, the country that your father and I hold many fond memories of, is going through a hard time.
My heart aches even more after watching videos like these:
I do not want this to happen to us here. And most importantly, I do not wish for this to happen to you.
Who knows? Perhaps, one day, like these young people in Hong Kong, there might be certain issues that you feel very strongly about which you want to fight for.
That is fine either – it is not wrong to feel passionate about something. And it is definitely not wrong to fight for something you believe in, or you believe to be right. We do not wish to raise you like some sheltered and prickly little rose.
But I hope that whatever it is you are fighting for, you will not do it at the expense of the society and affect the livelihood and threaten the safety of others.
I was pretty disturbed when I read that Yale-NUS was going to offer a programme that introduced students to ‘modes of dissent and resistance in Singapore’. I mean, just what kind of horrible programme is that? I, for sure, did not send my child to school to learn how to hurt our own country and fellow citizens.
It also worries me knowing that there might be people with warped political agenda out there, who may try to influence you. But I hope you will be sensible and smart enough to know right from wrong.
I am just an ordinary Singaporean with a stable job that earns me a decent income, and a roof above my head. And I am contented with my life.
Hence, I am not going to expect too much from you either, my child.
It’s okay if you don’t end up in a high paying job or become a millionaire. You don’t have to be driving a continental car either if it puts too much pressure on your bank account. We’re very lucky to have a very efficient public transport system. You don’t have to live in a private property either if it costs you an arm and a leg. Again, we’re lucky to have a solid public housing system.
You don’t have to change the world.
As your mother, my only hope and aspiration for you, my child, is to be healthy, be kind and do good – don’t be cancer to the society.
I hope that you will find your way in this world and always remember that I will always support you in whatever you do, as long as it brings no harm to you and to others.
Love you always,
Mommy.
Stephy is an avocado advocate. She likes reading, has a habit of breaking into random dances when she’s alone and she hates how she loves bubble tea.
