Hong Kong celebrity couple Anita Yuen and Julian Cheung have been married since 2001 and share a 17-year-old son Morton.
In a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily, Yuen admitted that motherhood isn't easy.
The 53-year-old emphasised the importance of understanding a child’s behaviour and mindset, cautioning against using harsh words and methods when a child is being stubborn.
“This is the most difficult part. If you don’t handle it well, it can strain the relationship,” she said.
As Morton turns 18 this November, Yuen is learning to let go and allow him to experience life on his own, even though it's difficult.
“I want to let him get a taste of life, but I can’t let go completely. It’s hard to let go. If I don’t, he will become a big baby, but at the same time, I’m also scared,” she said.
To strike a balance, Yuen will accompany Morton whenever he tries something new.
“But I won’t be by his side to protect him. Instead, I’ll analyse the outcomes of his decisions.
“I have become a completely different person because of this. Being a mother is like having a second life,” she added.
Yuen also recalled the moment she found out she was pregnant with Morton, expecting it to move her to tears.
“But I was stronger than I thought. I remember when I saw the test results, I told my husband it was positive and went back to sleep.
“It turns out reality and imagination are two different things. It’s really interesting,” she shared.
In 2021, Yuen revealed that she and Cheung had tried to conceive a child naturally after Morton’s birth as they wanted him to have a sibling. However, they weren’t able to do so due to Yuen’s age.
The couple then turned to in vitro fertilisation (IVF) but gave up after multiple failed attempts.
Despite these challenges, Yuen told Sin Chew Daily that she would still consider having another child if the opportunity arose.
“For me, 50 is not middle-aged yet,” she said, before adding, “I really love children.”
Yuen arrived in Malaysia earlier in July to film her upcoming movie, Mum’s Big News.
Expected to be released during Chinese New Year in 2025, the film sees Yuen playing a middle-aged woman dealing with an unexpected pregnancy.
