"It's a boy," the school canteen makcik said as I sat at my usual table enjoying my tea break with my colleagues.
We were guessing the gender of my soon-to-be-born baby.
Her comment was welcome news after having two girls, aged five and eight. I felt a little pressured about not having a boy as my husband was the eldest son. I did not want to ask my gynaecologist about the baby's gender because I thought the suspense would be exciting.
A few weeks later, my husband and I welcomed our third child. It was another girl.
We were not disappointed. Her round face and sweet smile melted our hearts. We felt that boy or girl, every child was still God's blessing.
After the birth of our third daughter, I insisted on not trying for a fourth child, thinking I might end up with six daughters like my grandaunt. My paternal great-aunt kept trying for a son until she had six daughters and finally, on the seventh try, had a son.
"Five of us fit nicely in one car," I said. My husband readily agreed, and we were happy with three daughters.
My eldest daughter, Ling, now 40 years old, is like the "Hua Mulan" of our family. She is courageous, kind-hearted and friendly.
She has settled down in France and is now the mother of two mischievous seven-year-old twin boys.
When she first set foot in France, cultural and language differences were major barriers. She endured every challenge, and her perseverance amazed me. Her resilience and extraordinary bravery could put many men to shame.
During my last trip to France for Christmas 2025, Ling and her husband, Pascal, took leave from work and brought me on a short getaway to an island called Ile de Re on the west coast of France.
I can hardly communicate with my first son-in-law because my French is limited. But he always makes sure I have a comfortable stay whenever I visit them.
My second daughter, Chyn, is the "health consultant" of the family. As a staff nurse, she is the first person I consult whenever I experience a medical scare before seeing a doctor.
She is round and chubby, so we nicknamed her "Bulat".
She lives in Johor Baru and is happily married. Her husband, Chun Leong, is a man of few words.
Cooking is his favourite pastime, and he likes surprising people.
On several occasions, Chyn and Chun Leong suddenly decided to drive back to Klang and appeared at my gate in the middle of the night to surprise me.
Last May, he surprised me with a Mothers Day cake. Knowing that I enjoy reading The Star, he would sometimes buy the newspaper for me whenever I stayed with them in Johor Baru. He knew I preferred reading the physical paper rather than reading it online.
My third daughter, Cheng, was the apple of her father's eye. She is smart, creative and quick-thinking. Trained as an illustrator, she is now working in Singapore.
Born in the Year of the Dog, we liked calling her "Little Boo". Even her cute motorbike number plate is 1300 because 13 resembles the letter B. She loved reading Harry Potter books and knew every page and scene like the back of her hand.
Outgoing and adventurous, her passion for big motorbikes scares me at times! She loves writing little notes and heartwarming messages and leaving them on my bedroom table to cheer me up.
In the old days, daughters were considered less valuable and a "depreciating investment" because people believed they were being raised for another family.
There is a Chinese proverb: "A married daughter is like splashed water." It means that once married, a daughter is considered part of her in-laws' family.
Like splashed water, she cannot be collected back. The married daughter's children carry the in-laws' surname. Sons were expected to care for elderly parents, inherit family assets and carry on the family name.
Today, especially in urban areas, this belief is outdated. Daughters care for their elderly parents just like sons, if not more. I am sure many parents would agree with me.
I do not have sons for comparison. But now, I actually would not have minded having six daughters.
A friend once told me that having three daughters equates to having three "half sons" because, to the Chinese, sons-in-law are considered "half sons".
God may not have blessed me with a son, but He has rewarded me in other ways.
To my three lovely daughters, I am grateful for all your love and support. Thank you for always being there for me even though all of you live miles away..
