The Long Nights of Motherhood, Perimenopause and Memories

I've been battling insomnia for the past one to two years. Darn perimenopause.

No matter how exhausted or sleepy I feel at night, falling asleep is still a challenge. Deep sleep is now elusive. And when I finally do drift off, I inevitably wake up sometime between 1am and 4am to pee. After that, I'm suddenly wide awake. Then comes the temptation to check my phone to see if any of my daughters have messaged me.

If I'm lucky, I manage to fall back asleep for another hour before my fur baby decides it's time for breakfast at 4.30 or 5.30am.

The result? I spend my days feeling like a zombie—headaches, low blood pressure, dizziness, and sometimes a stiff neck and aching shoulders. For the past couple of years, this has been my reality.

I can't wait to be fully menopausal, though knowing my luck, post-menopausal problems may simply become my new companion.

Still, no matter how miserable these sleepless nights feel, they pale in comparison to the long, cold nights I spent at Gleneagles Penang in May 2009.

More than 17 years ago, Cass, my live-in helper and I were practically living in the hospital for three weeks. Cass had undergone major surgery to correct Grade 3 kidney reflux, but complications arose and she had to be rushed into a second emergency surgery.

Those were some of the hardest weeks of my life.

Cass was only 13 months old. She was constantly in pain, frightened, cranky and clingy. Tubes seemed to be everywhere—drains, IV lines and an NG tube running through her tiny nostril. I watched her constantly, terrified she would pull out the tubes and make her suffering even worse.

Unfortunately, one day she did pull out the NG tube.

The nurses had to insert it again without local or general anaesthesia. The shock and distress on her little face is something I can still remember vividly today. No words can describe how broken my heart felt watching that procedure on my baby.

At night, I would sometimes climb into her tiny hospital cot, contorting my body into impossible positions just so I could hold her hands and stop her from tugging at the tubes while she slept.

On other nights, she would sleep on my hospital bed. Despite being only a toddler, she somehow managed to occupy the entire mattress, leaving me with no space except the foot of the bed, where I rested my head and tried to get whatever sleep I could.

By the end of those three weeks, I was severely sleep deprived. I fell sick during the stay in the hospital and needed antibiotics, and suffered from constant neck and shoulder pain.

But that's motherhood.

No motherhood journey is smooth sailing. We stumble through sleepless nights, hospital stays, worries, sacrifices, and countless moments when our hearts break a little for our children.

Today, Cass is 18. Her two sisters are adults too.

Sometimes, as I lie awake in the middle of the night, I remind myself that these perimenopause-induced sleepless nights are temporary. The difficult years of motherhood have already passed.

And if all goes according to plan, I have just four more years before  my two younger girls graduate from university and are fully launched into adulthood.

Then perhaps, after decades of interrupted sleep, worrying, caregiving and mothering, I might finally get a little taste of freedom.

 

Rain May Stop My Walks, But Not My Workouts

It's been raining every single day in Ipoh for the past week, thwarting my plans for my usual evening brisk walks.

Mum and I now attend strength training classes at the gym three times a week. In the evenings, I try to do at least 30–40 minutes of brisk walking around my neighbourhood. Walking or jogging beside hills, trees, and greenery has always been medicine for my body and soul, ever since I was a child.

Since the rain has been keeping me indoors every evening, I've been adapting by spending at least 30 minutes working out or dancing in front of my laptop instead.

One of my favourite YouTube channels for free workout videos is Fabulous50s. The creator is an Aussie lady in her 50s, and her workouts are easy to follow without being overly intense. If you're looking to lose some weight, improve your fitness, or simply move more, her videos are a great place to start.

The good thing about exercise is that it doesn't have to be complicated. You can work out in the comfort of your own room, wearing your pyjamas and socks if you like, like yours truly.

But if you enjoy using gym equipment and don't mind spending a little, the gym can be a great option too.

The important thing is to keep moving, rain or shine.

Here's a video of Mum and me at the gym today. 💪❤️ 

Strength Training at 53, With My 80yo Mum

My 80-year-old mum has suffered multiple falls over the years, resulting in broken wrists, a fractured shoulder, head injuries, and even broken teeth. At her age, she simply cannot afford another serious fall.

Like many seniors, she struggles with low muscle mass, weak hands and legs, fragile bones, and chronic aches and pains. But doing nothing is not the answer. In fact, inactivity would only accelerate the decline.

The only way forward is to keep moving, build strength, and stay as active as possible. Movement is medicine, even when it comes with some discomfort. Every morning, Mum tells me that walking is painful, especially when she first gets out of bed. Strength training is not a miracle cure that instantly takes away all aches and pains, but it is one of the best ways to slow down muscle loss, improve balance, strengthen bones, and reduce the risk of future falls.

To be honest, if it weren't for Mum, I probably would never have joined a gym. But now that we're both members, we've made a commitment to keep showing up. We plan to join more classes, whether it's strength training, Zumba, yoga, or even Hyrox-inspired workouts, and continue building stronger muscles while having a little fun along the way.

Growing older is inevitable. Becoming weaker doesn't have to be.

You can check out our video on my Facebook Page.

13 June 2026 ~ Saturday Brunch

My brunch today was simple but satisfying — 2 eggs, some leftover sardines from yesterday, roast chicken, and durian. 😋

Dad, who turns 83 this year, still loves going to the market every week to buy our perishables and lunch. Today, he came home with half a roast chicken and a box of kampung durian. Though my brunch was quite modest, it kept me full all the way until dinner.

For tea, I had chickpeas again, yogurt with soaked chia seeds, and my favourite pandan custard Swiss roll from JJ Swiss Roll.

We also made a trip to the main JJ Swiss Roll outlet in town to pick up a cake for Mum and her friends, who are celebrating their 80th birthdays together. Some of her friends had travelled all the way from KL and Australia to Ipoh for this special reunion. These are her course mates from Teachers' Training College more than 60 years ago.

Growing older is a privilege when you still have dear friends by your side to celebrate life's milestones together. Here's to good health, lasting friendships, and many more happy memories for all of them.  I hope I can do the same with my friends in future❤️

Black Sesame Spread - A Delicious Way to Add More Protein and Minerals to Your Diet

I've been enjoying this organic black sesame spread from Lohas lately. It has a rich, nutty black sesame aroma, isn't overly sweet, and most importantly, doesn't have that stale or rancid taste that some sesame products can develop.

It's delicious spread on toast, stirred into plain yogurt, or even paired with fruits like green apples for a healthy and delish snack.

Black sesame is also known for being a nutritious food. It contains protein, healthy fats, calcium, iron, and other minerals. In traditional Chinese wellness practices, black sesame is often associated with supporting healthy hair growth, strengthening hair roots, and nourishing kidney health. Whether or not you believe in traditional remedies, it's certainly a tasty way to add more nutrients to your diet.

For those who are interested, I got mine from Shopee here:

https://s.shopee.com.my/3VhrXNeTmU

My High Protein Breakfast & Lunch

Today after attending strength training class with my mum 💪✨ I had a simple high-protein lunch—canned sardines with pressure-cooked chickpeas. Dessert was plain sugar-free yogurt with soaked chia seeds.

I actually wasn’t very hungry because my breakfast was already very filling and satisfying.

Breakfast was quite a feast 😋

2 large soft-boiled eggs 🥚, walnuts, roasted mixed beans, decaf coffee with milk + ground chia seeds ☕, fruits 🍎, boiled chickpeas… and the star of the morning—

a super low-carb, super yummy pandan coconut mug cake made by mum 💚

It’s basically a microwave mug cake made with coconut flour, egg, coconut milk, fresh pandan juice, and a touch of gula melaka syrup. Soft, fragrant, and guilt-free comfort food. 

Sardines may be simple, but they are a powerhouse food:

🐟 High-quality protein

🐟 Rich in omega-3 fatty acids for heart and brain health

🐟 Packed with calcium (especially when you eat the soft bones)

🐟 Low in mercury compared to larger fish

🐟 Very affordable and convenient

And canned sardines aren’t unhealthy like some people assume—in fact, canning preserves most of the nutrients, and it’s a safe, practical way to enjoy fish without added fuss.

👉 My high-protein breakfast + lunch kept me full all the way until dinner

No cravings. No snacking. Just steady energy.

Food really is fuel—and when you get it right, your body quietly thanks you 💛

Lunch today - canned sardines with chick peas.

Low-carb coconut pandan mug cake, microwaved for 2+ minutes.

The cake was so delish that mum made it again this morning, and this time, she made a bigger portion, in a Pyrex, microwaved.

From Online Classes to University Dreams

This picture of Cass attending an online Math class during the pandemic popped up in my Google Photos today. I can hardly believe it has been six years. She was in Primary 6 in this picture.

It was the height of the Covid pandemic, and we were all confined to our homes. Schooling was uncertain, and like many children, my girls were initially delighted that they didn't have to go to school. Instead, lessons moved online, and they attended virtual classes for more than a year.

While online learning worked well for some students, it wasn't easy for many others. There were countless distractions at home—online games, chatting with friends, taking naps, wandering off to do other things, or simply losing focus in front of a screen. I must admit that all three of my girls struggled with these temptations at one point or another.  I hated Roblox so much back then as Cass was always hooked on this online game. She could multi-task so well - shifting from online class to Roblox simultaneously. 

Cass, who is now 18, often tells me how much she disliked online classes. She found it difficult to concentrate and has since declared that she never wants to study online again, even if some universities still offer that option. She much prefers being physically present in a classroom.

The transition from Primary 6 to Form 1 was not an easy one for Cass. After being accepted into Kuen Cheng High School—a school that is not easy to get into—she suddenly told me that she did not want to study in an Independent Chinese High School. Respecting her wishes, I accepted an offer from her former feeder school, a national secondary school in our neighbourhood.

However, during the pandemic, things became even more challenging. For an entire month, Cass refused to attend her online classes. She kept to herself and ignored me, and no matter how hard I tried, I could not get through to her or understand what she was going through. As a mother, it was a worrying and frustrating period.

Then one day, she walked up to me and quietly said, "Mummy, I want to study at Kuen Cheng High School." I was overjoyed. I immediately contacted the school and had a lengthy discussion with the person in charge. By God's grace, everything worked out, and Cass was accepted back into the school. I made her promise that she would not change her mind again.

What happened next surprised me. The following year, she was awarded a full bursary by the school, covering her entire year's fees. Even more remarkably, the bursary was renewed year after year after fresh applications, and she remained a bursary recipient all the way until Form 5. Looking back, I believe it was God's provision and a reminder that sometimes our children simply need time to find the path that is right for them.

In less than a month, Cass will begin her Pre-U studies, and I couldn't be prouder that she has been accepted into this university. Looking back at all the challenges she has overcome—from the uncertainties of the pandemic to finding her own path in school—I am amazed by how much she has grown.

Father's Day 2026 (Celebration In Advance)

My older brother and his family from Singapore came back to Ipoh, and so did my younger brother from KL. They were all back to have an early Father's Day celebration with my dad.

Since Thursday, our family has been dining out and spending time together, bonding over good food, endless conversations, and lots of laughter. These family gatherings don't happen often anymore, so every moment feels extra precious.

My older brother's 9-year-old twin boy & girl and I have also been bonding over Haru, my cat. They absolutely love cats and have been trying their best to get close to her. But Haru, being the timid little cat that she is, has spent the last few days huffing, puffing, and hissing whenever the twins got near. The twins get so excited and noisy whenever they see her, and poor Haru gets completely overwhelmed by all the attention and fanfare! She hides under my bed most of the time to avoid them 😅

Today is their fourth day in Ipoh, and Haru has finally started to warm up to them. She still won't let them pet her, though—perhaps that's a privilege they'll have to earn on their next visit. 😆

Tomorrow, my brothers and their families will head back to KL and Singapore respectively, and the house will be quiet again. Mum and I will return to our strength training classes, and we'll be back to eating simple home-cooked meals after four days of eating out three times a day. 😜

As much as I enjoy the peace and routine of everyday life, there is something special about having the people you love gathered under one roof. The laughter, the noise, the shared meals, and even Haru's dramatic protests are the little moments that become treasured memories. 

Family time may be fleeting, but the memories made around the dining table will stay with us long after everyone has gone home.❤️

The video on our celebration is available on my Facebook Page.

Celebration at Hanz & Jane, a cozy Insta-worthy cafe with good food and cakes.

She Found Her Voice When the Time Was Right

Alycia, my eldest daughter, was an extremely shy and timid child from babyhood right through her high school years.

Even as a teenager, she was too shy to order food or ask for something at a restaurant. Whenever she was around people she didn't know well—especially strangers—she would become very quiet. She hardly spoke to her guitar teacher despite attending lessons regularly for years. Social gatherings were never her thing either, and she seldom attended parties throughout primary and secondary school.

If you had told me back then that one day she would become a social butterfly with a wide circle of friends, I probably would not have believed you.

But when Alycia started college, something remarkable happened.

She began her Foundation programme at Sunway College during the pandemic, so all her classes were conducted online. When physical classes finally resumed, she started spending time with her course mates. That was the beginning of a beautiful metamorphosis.

Slowly but surely, she emerged from her shell.

The quiet, timid girl transformed like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. She gained confidence, became more comfortable interacting with others, and started building meaningful friendships. Before long, she had friends from every stage of her life—primary school, secondary school, tuition centres, Pre-University, university, and church.

Perhaps it was the college environment. Perhaps it was the people she met. Or perhaps she simply reached a stage in life when she was ready to spread her wings.

Today, Alycia is a confident, sociable young woman with a wonderful network of friends. The transformation has been nothing short of amazing.

Her journey taught me an important lesson: children develop at different rates.

If you have a child who is quiet, socially awkward, struggles with social skills, or even has selective mutism, don't lose hope. Not every child blossoms at the same time. Some flowers bloom early, while others take a little longer.

Given the right environment, the right people, and the right timing, they may surprise you one day. Growth often happens quietly and gradually, until suddenly you look back and realise how far they have come.

Sometimes, all they need is the space to grow into themselves—on their own terms and in their own time.

When "Good Enough" Is More Than Enough

 Cass used to suffer from monthly UTIs when she was a baby.

My gynecologist first detected a problem during my 16-week pregnancy scan. Her right kidney was dilated. Because of that finding, he arranged additional scans, 3D scans, and even an amniocentesis to investigate further.

When Cass was born, all her initial tests came back normal. There was no obvious obstruction in her urinary tract. We thought the worst was behind us.

We were wrong.

At just two months old, she had her first UTI. That marked the beginning of a long and exhausting journey that would span years. Endless tests, scans, hospital visits, and invasive procedures eventually confirmed that she had Grade 3 Vesicoureteral Reflux (Kidney Reflux), a condition where urine flows backward from the bladder toward the kidneys.

Almost every month, she suffered another UTI attack.

Those years were a nightmare. Every diaper change came with anxiety. I would sniff her dirty diapers constantly because a foul smell often meant bacteria were present in her urine. Before long, I had become an unwilling expert in urine cultures. I could recognize the names of different bacteria by heart, knew which antibiotics they were sensitive to, and spent countless hours reading medical journals, researching UTIs, and exploring natural remedies.

Yet despite all that effort, Cass still needed surgery at 13 months old to correct the reflux. And that surgery had complications, which led to another surgery.

The surgery helped, but it did not solve everything.

Even after more than a decade of follow-ups at HKL, numerous tests and invasive scans still could not clearly pinpoint the source of one remaining issue. We know there is still a problem somewhere, and our hope is to eventually identify and correct it so that Cass can live a completely normal life.

From my research online, I found out that D-Mannose is the best natural remedy to treat a UTI caused by E-Coli (not other bacteria, though). 17 years ago, D-Mannose was only available in the UK and I ordered this preventive/complimentary agent from England, which Cass took as a prophylactic measure until today.

Because of her condition, Cass is more susceptible to UTIs than most people. As a result, I became extremely protective of her.

When she was in Standard One, I was constantly at school. I made sure she drank enough water, went to the toilet regularly, and was doing well. I knew all her teachers and many of her friends. Even today, some of her primary school friends who later attended the same secondary school still recognize me. When I visited her school recently, several of them greeted me immediately.

I was that mother—the one who was always outside the classroom or sitting in the canteen, quietly keeping watch.

When Cass was 12, she suffered another UTI attack. Every time that happened, I would bring her to Dr. Eric, the pediatrician at Pantai Hospital Bangsar, the one doctor I trusted completely with her care since Cass was 2 months old. He understood her medical history and was always careful in selecting medications because he knew her kidneys were vulnerable. He never prescribed antibiotics carelessly.

Each serious UTI usually meant hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and a course of oral antibiotics afterwards.

Then came her SPM.

On the morning of her final paper in December last year, my phone rang at 5.30 a.m. I had already moved back to Ipoh.

The moment I heard her voice, my heart sank.

She was having another UTI attack.

I immediately told her to see a doctor and to hand the phone to me to speak with the doctor once she reached the clinic. I also told her something I truly meant:

"If you don't sit for the last paper, it's okay. Take care of your health first"

The final paper was Chinese, but her health mattered far more than any examination result.

Even if she received an F for the paper, I would have been completely at peace with it. UTIs are not something to take lightly, especially for someone with her medical history.

By God's grace, Cass managed to see the doctor, sit for her Chinese paper, and recover.

She didn't fail.

She scored a C+.

The only person who was unhappy with that result was Cass herself.

As for me?

I was delighted.

Her 7As were more than enough.

In truth, she has always been more than enough.

After everything she has endured since birth, academic results have never been the measure of her worth. As long as her health is stable, her kidneys are protected, and she is happy, that is all that truly matters to me.

That will always be enough. ❤️

Cass warded at Pantai Medical Centre for UTI (age 12) in 2020.

The Little Girl I Had to Learn to Let Go

Of my three daughters, I am closest to my youngest. Perhaps it is because of everything we have gone through together since the day she was born.

Because of her health issues, I was fiercely protective of her. I breastfed her until she was over three years old, and much of my life revolved around keeping her healthy. Back then, she suffered frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), and my mission was simple: prevent another infection, protect her kidneys, and keep her safe from further damage.

As a result, she was sheltered and shielded far more than her sisters.

There were advantages to that, but there were drawbacks too.

When she reached puberty, she began to rebel. She wanted freedom. She wanted to do the things that "normal" girls could do without a worried mother hovering nearby. We clashed often. We travelled through some very rough terrain together as mother and daughter.

There were arguments. There were tears. There were moments neither of us is proud of. Yes, I hit her, and she pushed me back. There was even a period when we genuinely disliked each other. We seemed to be constantly at war.

But those difficult years are behind us now.

Today, we are back to being best friends again—no longer frenemies.

When she was younger, she used to call me her twin because we were so close. Eventually, I had to learn one of the hardest lessons of motherhood: letting go. I had to trust that I had done my best, pray for her safety and good health, and allow her to spread her wings and explore the world on her own terms.

Even now that we live apart, I still check in on her every day.

As I look back, some of my favourite memories are the little things.

We used to write sweet notes to each other. I would tuck handwritten messages into her lunch box. She would leave cute thank-you notes for the meals I cooked. Out of my three daughters, she was probably my biggest cheerleader in the kitchen. Every new recipe I made was enthusiastically sampled and reviewed by her with 5 stars.

When I was physically exhausted and mentally drained from juggling work, family, and caregiving, she would create little coupon booklets for me. They included free massages and discounted massages—her version of a professional loyalty programme 😅

And honestly, her massages were surprisingly good.

I was forever begging her to massage my aching shoulders, neck, and head. She would usually agree—provided I let her play with my phone afterwards -- 30 mins of massage = 30 mins of phone playing 😅. Looking back now, those simple bargains between mother and daughter feel priceless.

Raising three girls was not easy. There were days when I was overwhelmed, exhausted, sleep-deprived, and functioning like a zombie. At the time, I often wondered how I would survive it all.

Yet when I think back on those years today, what I remember most are not the sleepless nights or the worries.

I remember the notes.

I remember the laughter.

I remember the little massage coupons.

I remember the little girl who followed me everywhere.

Sometimes I miss my girls when they were younger. I miss those crazy, hectic, chaotic years more than I ever thought I would.

Funny how the days that felt the longest somehow become the memories we cherish the most. 

Free massage coupon booklets that Cass used to give me lol

Cass filing my feet

This was a regular scene at my work table - Cass sitting next to me, doing her homework.

Cass's school (KC2) organized this feet washing event to honor mothers on Mother's Day. She was about 10.

Cass helping me to hang the laundry after my surgery in 2017.

My reminder note to Cass for her to bring back her lunch box and utensil.

Lunch for Cass & Sherilyn every Wednesday when they stayed back for CoCo. I would drop off the food in school.

Cass's love note to me, when she was about 7.

The Best Investment I Ever Made: Raising a Reader

Cass, my youngest daughter, wasn't an early reader. She only started recognizing words at around age five. I still remember her teacher telling her to eat more eggs so her memory would improve and she could recognize words more easily.

Perhaps she simply hadn't found the right books yet.

Everything changed when I introduced her to the novels of Geronimo Stilton, Enid Blyton, and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. It was as though those books were the missing puzzle piece her brain had been waiting for.

Almost overnight, she became a bookworm.

Wherever we went, there was always a book in her hand—at restaurants, hawker centres, in the car, on trains, while shopping, and even at school. Her favourite place on earth was the bookstore, and to this day, it still ranks second only to the skating rink.

By the age of ten, she was reading thick novels filled with tiny print. I remember she bought a huge Harry Potter book at a Big Bad Wolf sale. The book looked intimidating—massive, thick, and packed with pages of tiny words. Friends joked that she looked like a little lawyer because she was always carrying a hefty novel around while wearing her glasses.

By twelve, she had already moved on to novels written for adults.

I invested heavily in books for Cass and her two sisters. The three of them loved reading, and looking back, it was one of the best investments I ever made. I didn't just buy them books—I helped them fall in love with reading.

Cass later went on to participate in numerous essay-writing competitions throughout secondary school. Then came her SPM year. At the very last minute, she decided to sit for English Literature, an optional subject that wasn't even taught to students in her stream.

Determined to make it work, she approached her English teacher for guidance and borrowed notes from her van mate, who was her senior. He generously passed all his notes to her.

Thankfully, she took the leap.

She scored an A+ in English Literature.

I couldn't have been prouder.

Today, Cass still reads physical books. She treasures every one of them and absolutely forbids me from selling her collection. Those shelves of well-loved books are more than just paper and ink—they are reminders of a lifelong love affair with reading that began with finding the right story at the right time.

And that, to me, is one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child. 📚❤️

She even hijacked my Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother

A daily scene at the dining table - Cass's face was always hidden behind a book.

At the hair salon

In the train, otw to Ipoh

At a book store in Singapore

Her routine every day of her primary and high school life - enjoying her fruits and dessert after lunch, with a book in hand.

When “Can’t Focus” Turned Out to Be Something Beautiful

When my second daughter, Sherilyn, was younger, she was full of energy—almost like there was a motor inside her that never switched off. She couldn’t sit still for long, her attention in class wandered easily, and she talked non-stop. Even when she was sitting or walking, her hands were always moving, touching, fidgeting.

At that time, I honestly wondered if she might have ADHD or Dyslexia.

But everything changed when she was 11.

One day, she decided to bake a strawberry cake for her granny’s birthday—all on her own. No help, no supervision. Just her, in the kitchen, completely focused.

Fingers cut, wrong measurements, and a very messy kitchen later... a beautiful and delish cake surprised all of us.

And what came out of that oven… was amazing for an 11-year-old.

That moment stayed with me.

Because from that cake onward, something in her unfolded.

She started exploring baking—pies, tarts, cakes, entremets,—and then moved on to cooking proper meals too. Sushi, Japanese egg rolls, Korean dishes, Indian food, Italian, French… she just kept learning, tasting, experimenting. Self-taught, driven, curious.

We were all her happy guinea pigs at home, especially during the lockdowns from 2020 - 2022 when she cooked and baked the most.

She even picked up latte art on her own later, then went on to attend paid courses she saved up for herself.

During the pandemic, while online classes were happening, she was often in the kitchen instead—PC on loudspeaker, multitasking in her own world. Sitting still for lessons wasn’t easy for her, but focus showed up strongly in other places.

In her SPM year, I eventually had to arrange nearly RM2,000 per month worth of one-to-one tuition for the entire year for Add Math, Physics, Chemistry & Bio, because the disruptions from lockdown and schooling challenges affected her learning. But she pushed through and still surprised me with her results in the end.

Later in university, something else became clear—when she studied architecture, her focus was incredible. Her assignments, models, and designs were detailed, creative, and strong. That was when I began to understand her more deeply.

Maybe it wasn’t that she “couldn’t focus.”

Maybe it was that she couldn’t focus on things that didn’t speak to her heart.

Because when she cares about something—baking, cooking, latte art, dance (especially), architecture—she becomes completely absorbed, almost unstoppable.

And I’ve learned this: sometimes children who seem “restless” or “unfocused” are simply not yet placed in the right environment for their strengths to shine.

So if your child struggles in school or seems distracted, don’t rush to label them. Give them space. Let them explore different interests. Let them try, fail, and try again.

You might just discover that their “dim light” is actually waiting for the right spark to shine brilliantly one day.

Baking her first cake at age 11 for my mum's birthday.

Age 9 - back from after-school care centre and straight to the kitchen to help me cook

Baking her first beef pie at age 11 and it was absolutely delish.

Age 15, during the lockdowns - Sherilyn made this burger from scratch - the buns and the meat patties.

Age 9 - It all started with her always volunteering to help me cook scrambled eggs and stir-fried veggies. 

Age 15 - made butter chicken and cheese naan. She even made the cheese herself.

Age 15 - lemon tart with matcha. She even made the lemon curd herself and sold it during the pandemic.

Age 15, during the lockdowns - she made taro & sweet potato balls for our own bubble tea and tong sui.

I can't remember the name of this beef but it was coated with pistachio and very yummy.

Age 15 - Sherilyn baked this yummy banana walnut bread, which is my fav.