I didn’t understand my mother until I became one

Dear Insiders,

Mother’s Day feels different once you become a mother yourself.

Growing up, I always knew my mum did a lot for me.

But I didn’t realise how much she carried, physically and emotionally, until I became a mother.

Only when my daughter started depending on me for everything did I begin to understand what that really means.

The constant remembering.
The planning ahead.
The invisible worrying.
The way your body is always on standby for someone else.

And somewhere along the way, I realised something else too.

Because my daughter relies on me so much, I actually need to put myself first sometimes if I want to be a present mother to her.

You can’t pour from an empty cup.

But that lesson feels very counter-intuitive when you’ve grown up watching mothers give and give and give without stopping.

For a while, I did exactly that.

Until one day I realised I was burnt out.

That was the moment I understood something I wish more mothers heard earlier:

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish.

It’s part of taking care of your family.

So here’s to all the mothers and our sacrifices!

And here’s also a reminder that caring for ourselves isn’t just about drinking another collagen drink in the morning or squeezing in something “healthy” between responsibilities.

Sometimes it’s about giving ourselves permission to rest.

To enjoy something that belongs just to us.

To be taken care of for once.

That’s exactly why this year’s Mother’s Day gift guide on The Wellness Insider isn’t about buying something for the sake of it.

It’s about choosing something that helps mothers feel supported, rested, and appreciated in ways they usually don’t ask for.

You can explore the full guide here:

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2026
https://thewellnessinsider.asia/2026/04/mothers-day-gift-guide-2026-singapore/

Because even if Asian mums say, “Don’t need anything lah.” Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is insist anyway.

“Mothers spend most of their lives giving.
Mother’s Day is when we remind them they deserve to receive too.”