This is a reader-contributed article.
“My dear future children,
You may learn in school about socio-economic status and how it may shape your life experience as well as your identity.
Your teachers may teach you that how well your parents are earning affects where you live, what you eat, what kind of entertainment and activities you pursue.
But Ma wants to remind you not to let your identity be shaped by these superficial pursuits in life.
Today, you are who you are because of the beautiful values and beliefs that you hold dear to your heart.
You are not any lesser just because you choose to speak in dialect to your grandparents. You do it out of love to connect with your grandparents.
It is a pity that Ma didn’t pick up teochew at a young age and couldn’t converse with your great-grandma in the language that she’s most familiar with.
You are not any lesser just because we don’t bring you to play golf at an exclusive country club.
We can derive the same amount of joy exercising in the park or playing badminton at the community centre.
Focus not just on the sport but also the people you’re with because these precious memories will stay with you for a lifetime.
You are not any lesser just because our family likes to eat at home. Eating at home brings our family closer together.
Home-cooked food is always prepared with love.
Pa and Ma may be able to bring you on holidays to far far away places but it doesn’t mean you’re “rich enough” to travel abroad.
It just means you’re fortunate to see more of the world at a younger age. Remember to count your blessings and stay grounded.
We’re happy that you’ve chose to spend your holidays to earn some money.
Ma was only 15 when she got screamed at by a survey respondent for making cold calls and the person even threatened to report her to the police. It was her first holiday job.
Ma also broke a few bowls while working in a restaurant as a waitress after the O’Level exams. But she met very kind colleagues who helped her and made work enjoyable. Even the kitchen chef made sure she always had her meals.
You may not need to earn your keep at such a young age but these experiences will teach you important life lessons that money cannot give you.
Don’t just work for money. Work to receive hard knocks. You’ll be grateful for them in future.
Remember not to let your identity be shaped by all the superficial things in life.
Even if you lose everything you own one day, you are still who you are because nobody can take away the values and beliefs you hold on to.
To be rich is not what you have in your bank account but what you have in your heart.
Always remember how much Pa and Ma love you and share this love with everyone else around you.”
