Being a mother in Singapore is tough.On Sept. 22, 2017, a public transport-reliant mother, who has a 10-and-a-half-month-old infant, wrote publicly about her parenting woes in this country.
Not only are they not gracious enough to make way for her on board crowded trains or step aside for her to use the lift, they judge her for being a burden by taking up too much space with her pram.
The mom’s post was popular as it was shared widely, evidently by fellow parents who felt it resonated with them as they also have to deal with these frustrations.
This is especially so for any mother, or parent, who has to singlehandedly take care of an infant or toddler and then having to contend with the hustle and bustle of everyday living — made complicated by people who are unhelpful and only know how to judge from the sidelines.
On Sept. 27, a Facebook post by a mother, who is an air stewardess, recounted what happened when she commiserated with a passenger on her flight.
As the toddler bawled for a good 20 minutes when the plane was landing, the mother was alone and helpless in the cabin filled with passengers who were complete strangers. Unable to cope with the stress of the situation of imposing on them as her child refused to stop, the mother began to cry as well.
However, when the plane finally landed, the air stewardess who witnessed how the mother tried her best the whole time to cajole her child to pipe down, approached the distressed woman to tell her: “You did a great job.”
That was all the validation the mother needed, as she broke down crying because someone understood what she was going through.
This is the post:
Not parent-friendly
She complained about Singapore’s public transport system being very difficult to navigate when crowded and how able-bodied commuters are simply not empathetic or understanding a lot of times.Not only are they not gracious enough to make way for her on board crowded trains or step aside for her to use the lift, they judge her for being a burden by taking up too much space with her pram.
Mothers taking care of children have a lot to deal
And the struggle is real.The mom’s post was popular as it was shared widely, evidently by fellow parents who felt it resonated with them as they also have to deal with these frustrations.
This is especially so for any mother, or parent, who has to singlehandedly take care of an infant or toddler and then having to contend with the hustle and bustle of everyday living — made complicated by people who are unhelpful and only know how to judge from the sidelines.
Stewardess comforts fellow mom on flight
But another thing is also clear: In trying times, it is apparent that a little validation is all some mothers need to keep things together.On Sept. 27, a Facebook post by a mother, who is an air stewardess, recounted what happened when she commiserated with a passenger on her flight.
Toddler cried non-stop
The passenger was a mother travelling alone with a 19-month-old toddler, who was crying non-stop.As the toddler bawled for a good 20 minutes when the plane was landing, the mother was alone and helpless in the cabin filled with passengers who were complete strangers. Unable to cope with the stress of the situation of imposing on them as her child refused to stop, the mother began to cry as well.
However, when the plane finally landed, the air stewardess who witnessed how the mother tried her best the whole time to cajole her child to pipe down, approached the distressed woman to tell her: “You did a great job.”
That was all the validation the mother needed, as she broke down crying because someone understood what she was going through.
This is the post:
Yesterday, upon landing, there was a toddler of 19 months squirming in her mothers’ lap and as she was buckled up for landing , she began to cry n scream in ernest.Top photo via
She screamed and buckled n fidget throughout the 20 minutes of landing time, big fat tears rolling down her face. Pushing and trying to slip the infant seat belt down her legs, looking for freedom.
The mother, a petite lady who looked like she’s in her 30s, tried her best to hold on to the little squirming, screaming bundle, consoling her child and managed to time n again put the seatbelt back on her childs’ waist. She hold her child gently, had her head to her childs’ and whispered softly the whole time. But the child was beyond consoling. She wanted to be freed.
At this moment, all the passengers Ard them are taking deep breaths of air for patience and some gave the mother empathetic glances. I was clucking n cooing trying to distract the child at where I was seated but no, she wasn’t buying that.
I was admiring the mothers’ patience cos if it was me, I would have smacked maximus right across the bum.
Then i realised, that mother was crying. Silent tears of helplessness as she can only watch her child cry in distress. My heart broke that instant. I can only hope that our gate will not be too far away.
Chocks on, seat belt sign went off. I went to the mother, rubbed her arms and told her,
“You did a great job.”
She began crying in ernest because of my words and/or from the relief that the flt was over. She stood up, holding her child close to her n sob into her childs’ shoulders. I felt tears rushing to my eyes cos as a mother myself, I knew exactly how she felt. I hid behind the curtain, composed myself and went back to the mother to tell her what a good job she had done.
I’m thankful that my pax yesterday were all extremely understanding. No one berated her for not being able to control her child. No one gave her dirty looks.
People need to know that it’s not easy to travel alone with young children. Please give them more support the next time u see a mother struggling with a child. Be it a kind word of encouragement, or offering to hold the child for a few moments while the mother have her meal, would be a great help to the mother.
#togetherAsOne
#travellingAloneWithChildren
#noEasyFeat
