It took a couple of heartfelt emails from our dearest readers to make me realise how long it has been since I last shared a proper life update. Time has a way of slipping through our fingers when we are deep in the business of living. The days become full, then fuller, and before we know it, months — even years — have passed. So here I am, finally sitting down to write.

The good news is simple: my family and I have been well. Life has been busy, purposeful, and incredibly fulfilling in ways I did not fully anticipate.

For the past two years, I have immersed myself deeply in the pet industry. What began as an interest has grown into something much more serious and structured. I decided to take up feline behavioural courses with the aim of becoming a certified feline specialist. It has been one of the most intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding journeys I have embarked on.

Understanding cats is both science and art. Behavioural science, environmental enrichment, stress signals, communication cues — the depth of knowledge required is immense. Cats are often misunderstood creatures, labelled aloof or difficult when in reality they are simply communicating in subtle ways many people have never been taught to recognise. Learning to interpret those signals, to help me to build stronger, healthier relationships with my cats, has been meaningful beyond words.

To my delight, the pet industry community has been incredibly warm. People are generous with their time and expertise. From seasoned shelter volunteers to foster pawrents, groomers and trainers, I have met individuals who are genuinely passionate about animal welfare. There is very little ego and a lot of sharing. That generosity has encouraged me to learn more, to ask more questions, and to give back where I can.

Beyond animals, another area that has quietly grown in my life is mentorship. Over the past year, I have taken on mentorship roles with a couple of mothers who are venturing into freelance work. Freelancing is often romanticised for its flexibility, but sustaining it requires structure, discipline, and emotional resilience. I remember how overwhelming it felt at the beginning — the uncertainty of income, the fear of pitching, the struggle to price oneself fairly.

Mentoring these women has reminded me why I value freelance life so deeply. It is not simply about working from home. It is about ownership — of time, of growth, of priorities. Together we work through practical steps: identifying strengths, defining service offerings, creating systems, setting boundaries, building confidence. More importantly, we talk about sustainability. How do you prevent burnout? How do you manage guilt when you are both mother and entrepreneur? How do you stay consistent when motivation dips?

Watching them gain confidence and secure their first projects has been incredibly fulfilling. There is something powerful about women empowering women, especially mothers who are carving alternative career paths without sacrificing presence at home.

That presence at home has become even more intentional for me recently, especially regarding my children’s education. The Singapore education system is notoriously rigorous. Academic excellence is important, yes, but I have come to realise that doing well in exams is only one piece of the puzzle.

We are increasingly focused on character building — holistically shaping who our children become as individuals. This means encouraging hobbies and activities that cultivate resilience, bravery, perseverance, grace, creativity and patience. These are not qualities that can be memorised for an exam. They are forged through experience.

Art classes teach expression and imagination. Chess lessons cultivate strategic thinking and patience. Martial Arts builds discipline and physical courage. Competitions teach them how to handle both victory and disappointment with dignity. Each activity is a thread woven into the fabric of their character.

With that holistic vision comes practical logistics — and that is where my flexibility plays a crucial role. As the parent with a more adaptable schedule, I coordinate between schools, enrichment centres and schedules. I plan routes carefully to avoid traffic bottlenecks. I keep track of important dates — exam schedules, competitions, school announcements, registration deadlines. On top of that, the fridge is always full, the cookie jar is filled and the clothes are freshly laundered.

Children’s activities here can be extremely expensive. I spend time researching programmes, comparing prices, sourcing promotions and calculating long-term costs. Every cent matters, and thoughtful planning ensures we invest wisely in their growth without unnecessary waste.

Often, you will find me sitting at the side of an art studio or gym, laptop open, working while they attend lessons. In between emails, I glance up and watch them try, fail, try again. Those small moments — eye contact from across the room, a quick wave before they return to practice — are priceless. Being physically present matters to me. I do not want to only hear about milestones after they happen; I want to witness the journey.

This arrangement has also given my other half the space to focus more intensely on building his career. With one parent managing much of the daily coordination, he carries less parental guilt. It is a partnership built on seasons — understanding that at different times, one of us may lean in more heavily at home while the other pushes forward professionally.

Of course, life is not purely about nurturing others. I have been intentionally investing in my own health too. Recently, I have been spending more time at the gym preparing for my next big scuba diving trip. Scuba diving demands strength, endurance and calm control of breath. Training gives me not only physical readiness but mental clarity. The discipline of showing up consistently, even when tired, mirrors so much of life itself.

There is something deeply grounding about diving — descending beneath the surface where noise fades and everything slows. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to it during this busy season of life. It reminds me to breathe, to focus, to move deliberately rather than reactively.

Looking back at these past two years, I realise how interconnected everything has been. My work in the pet industry has deepened my empathy and observational skills. Mentoring mothers has strengthened my leadership and communication. Investing in my children has reinforced my long-term perspective. Training for diving has sharpened my discipline.

Life, though busy, feels aligned.

To those who wrote in asking for an update — thank you. Your emails were gentle reminders that community is built on shared stories. Sometimes we get so caught up in doing that we forget to pause and reflect.

This is me, pausing.

There are still many projects in motion, many lessons to learn, and many early mornings ahead. But in this season — balancing cats, clients, children and diving tanks — I feel grateful.

Grateful for flexibility.
Grateful for growth.
Grateful for the privilege of being present.

PS. The greeting pic is from my own collection when I was living in China. Getting weary with AI generated crap. Happy New Year!