Special occasion: (From left) Lee with her three grandchildren, daughter Ng and son-in-law Khor posing for a picture on Mothers Day. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Parents tend to tell their children that “they will only understand parenthood after becoming parents themselves” and it rings true for Ng Siang Yng, who now appreciates her mother more after having three children of her own.
The 42-year-old businesswoman said she grew closer to her mother after she herself became a mother.
For Mothers Day, which fell yesterday, Ng and her family prayed at the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merits Society here before going for breakfast together.
“People do not realise that our parents prefer quality time with us. They want to do things with us, rather than receive gifts.
“My mother enjoys our company. With everyone being busy nowadays, it is important to make an effort to spend time together,” she said.
With Ng and her mother Lee Lay Yeong, 64, yesterday were Ng’s two sons, aged 12 and nine, and daughter, eight, and husband Shawn Khor.
Their celebrations continued with a family dinner.
Ng said as the eldest daughter of six, she remembered her mother’s sacrifices while raising her sisters and her.
“My mum taught me how to cook. We always did things together as a team.
“After becoming a mother myself, I realised the value of motherhood,” she said.
On her children’s birthdays, Ng said her family practised a tradition in which her kids would serve tea to her, her mother and also mother-in-law as a gesture of thanks for giving them life.
At another family event, a similar celebration of all the mothers in the extended family also took place.
Serlyn Lee, 40, spent Mothers Day with her mother, god-mother, siblings and children.
“Every year, we celebrate together as a family and have lunch.
“My children made me a card and I made sure they got my mother a gift too.
“I always tell them that if my mother did not have me, they would not have existed either.
“We usually make it a big celebration with everyone as I am one of five siblings,” she said.
Lee said it was nice to see three generations together as it was important to celebrate such occasions.
“We make sure to gather as often as possible,” she said.