My mother and me

Local celebrities tell CATHERINE ROBERT about that one special moment with their mothers which made them tear up

My family never expected much from me academically. I preferred sports, drama and everything that didn't involve holding a book for hours.

I ended up going to Lasalle College of the Arts and majored in acting. On my graduation day, the moment they called my name, I walked on stage and despite the distance, I could hear my mum cheering loudly.

I took my cert, ran off the stage and gave her the biggest hug. At that point, she said, 'I knew you could do it'. I broke down at those words.

- Carla Dunareanu, 26, Fly Entertainment model-actress

I went through a bad break-up seven years ago and I remember my mother called me at home from work to find out how I was coping. She could tell from my voice that I wasn't doing well.

About 20 minutes after the call, I was standing aimlessly in the corridor and suddenly, I saw my mother walking towards me. She had left work early to come home. She didn't say a word. She just walked up to me and gave me the tightest hug.

At that moment, I broke down. My mother and I don't have a mushy relationship so hugs were rare. That moment, however, was priceless.

- Ian Fang, 26, actor

It happened a few weeks ago after a Suria awards show. I was nominated for two categories but went home with nothing.

After I got home, I started wiping my make-up off. Then my mum came up to me and said, 'In my heart and in my eyes, you will always be a winner. It doesn't matter that you didn't win any physical trophies.'

Then she pulled me close and hugged me really tightly. That was really an emotional moment.

- Nadiah M. Din, 25, actress

My mother is a staunch Buddhist. She always prays and asks for blessings and in return, will go on a vegetarian diet to 'pay back'.

I never knew about it. Apparently, it's never a one-off thing. She always does it for me to ensure I have a good run with my games. I would never have known about this if it wasn't for my sister and father, but when I found out, I was really moved.

- Gabriel Quak, 25, footballer

My mum and I were in a cab and the taxi driver asked if we were sisters. He remarked that few daughters get along so well with their mothers.

My mother turned to me and smiled. I asked her what that was for and she replied: 'You'll always be my little girl that grew up to be a true friend'.

That moved to me to tears.

- Charmaine Yee, 27, Kiss 92 DJ

Whenever I think about the things my mother used to tell me, it gets me emotional but in a happy way.

She used to say 'you're never too old to get a slap' whenever she needed to teach me a lesson about being respectful. I used to roll my eyes every time she said it to me.

I will never forget how she taught me respect. Whenever my kids forget their manners, I say the same things and think of her saying those words to me.

For that, I am reminded of how much of a blessing it is to have her around my kids. The thought of that is very touching.

- Wendy Jacobs, 42, model

At my passing out parade, my mum and I were asked to be interviewed.

The interviewer asked her how she felt about seeing me at the ceremony and although she was very shy and uneasy in front of the camera, she said she was 'glad to see me all grown up' and that she was 'proud to have a son like me'.

Those simple words made me warm and fuzzy inside. I rarely hear things like that from her only because she's not normally expressive."

- James Seah, 24, actor

This article was first published on May 10, 2015.
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