Letter 3 - To My Parents

I know I've taken a break from writing these letters but that's because I've been really busy! So here's the letter of the moment long overdue, dedicated to my parents:

Dear Mum and Dad,

Ok, this is kinda hard to start. Maybe I'll address each part to you both separately.


Dear Dad,

You are the person I go to whenever I get a lousy grade for my class tests because I know I'd get a scolding if I show my report card to Mum and I'm not one who forges signatures. I know with you, I can get away with it because you're the more lenient parent.

When I was younger, I enjoyed following you to the factory but I'm not sure if the feeling's mutual because sometimes when I said that I'm gonna follow you to the factory, you'll disappear alot faster than usual hahaha. But I like just hanging around in the office, playing with my cousins, feeding koi fishes at someone's office (can't remember who) and just having a different place to hang out during school holidays. I remember going to Bishan Park, you fishing and Kelda and I riding on rented bicycles around the place. I have vague memories of you, uncle and the other fellow employees playing soccer at Bishan Park after work one day, I didn't make it up, did I? I remember you coming home with two pairs of rollerblades for me and Kelda, and how we spent the evening trying to get our balance on them. Those were good memories that I have.

As I grew up and things happen like they do, I started to resent some of the stuff you did. I didn't talk much to you, or pay any attention to you because of all the anger/ resentment I held against you. But one day, I just snapped outta it because... holding all this anger inside of me is only damaging me, hurting me and no one else. Seeing you smoke still upsets me, but I know you're always going somewhere far away from me when you want to smoke. Psst, you know sometimes in the middle of the night, I get woken up when you light up a cigarette? I'm sensitive like that.

Maybe absence makes hearts grow fonder, but I find you acting like a dad now. You talk to me online from time to time, though sometimes I don't respond because I'm away from the computer or too busy to respond and I'm sorry for all the times that occurred. Anyways, I just want to say, I know there's no manual on how to be a great dad so... I think you're doing fine. :)

Dear Mum,

I think it's hard to know which style of parenting you wish to adopt when you're dealing with your first child (ie, me), but I hope I turned out pretty alright by your terms. Whatever I do, it's in hope that you'll be proud of the things I've accomplished, be it in terms of academics or otherwise.

I know you've always tried to expose me to many things: piano/ abacus/ art/ tuition classes to prepare me, but I really hate abacus you know! =( I admit, it was fun for a while but the novelty of flicking beads back and forth faded off after a while. I know it's supposed to help me in my mental sums and all that, but I'm just not wired for calculations!

I know you didn't have much when you were a kid and you don't want us to go through what you went through, that's why you provide us with what we need and beyond. So, I 'm very blessed to have you for my mum.

You are the stricter parent, I remember you making me pull my ears or face the wall when I've been naughty and you would prevent anyone from 'saving' me from my plight. But I know you're strict with me because you have my interests at heart.

Because I'm a child in your eyes, and I will always be because I know when I whine, you'll grant me all my whims and fancies. I wanted you to bake me a cake for my birthday two years back instead of getting one from the bakery, and you did. I whined when I wanted a massage and you manipulate my muscles and they felt better. That must be the magic of the touch of a mother.

I will always remember how you held my hand and helped me trace/draw pictures for my art homework, how you made me walk to school on my own after I missed the school bus because I didn't finish my homework (but you followed close behind to make sure I don't get lost/ kidnapped), you taking photos of me during my dance performances when I was in primary school, you bringing us to KAP's McDonald's when we were kids and we would play in the playground while you were downstairs ordering food for us, afternoons spent in JB having lunch+tea+dinner and watching movies, you spending time in Brisbane with us, cooking homecooked meals and things that I missed so much and taking care of me when I was hopping around on my crutches. 有妈的孩子像个宝。

I just want to say that I can't wait to see you both and the whole family at our convocation at the end of the year. Mum and Dad, I miss you both.