Date: Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Time: 9:39 PM

A cute conversation between a mother and her son which I overheard quite sometime back left a great impression on me. I was travelling on a noisy shuttle bus, and they were sitting right beside me. It got me thinking, is it true that people tend to become less appreciative of the little things around us as we grow older? or is it other things (like money) are making us more stressed up to overlook on all things else?

So, the conversation went like that.. (Roughly- I cant recall every detail but im dead sure they used singlish)


Mother: Boy ah, today you went to the zoo right? Fun ornot?
Son: Ya mummy, today very fun.. The teacher brought us around to see the animals

Mother: Isit? Mummy give you money for lunch you got use ornot? Where is the balance? Give back to mummy if not later lost
Son: Ya mummy, I use the money to buy macdonald! And this one..
( little boy reaches into his bag and pulled out something)

Son: Mummy i buy this ring for you! Very pretty hor?
Mother: (Looks at the ring in disdain) Mummy tell you how many times, dont anyhow waste money! How much you buy it for?

Son: Mummy, very cheap.. 2dollar only (smiles innocently)
Mother: Wah! 2 dollar for this type of thing?! nextime dont waste money already ok, save up in case you hungry can buy food mah!
Son: Orh mummy (frowning)



I thought it's both amusing and depressing to hear this conversation. Even an outside like me could feel the sourness. It must have been worse on the little boy's end. All he wanted was to give his mother a little token, a little surprise. It wasnt done with ill intentions. But the mother sounded like her only concern in the world was the money wasted. She was so quick in lecturing the son. She didn't even show a tinge of smile or appreciation. Sigh.


I'm pretty sure it would have been another story if this were a conversation between a caucasian mother and child. But then again. it's just my conjecture.


It's true that not everyone is of wealthy financial status. Majority of us in Singapore come from average earning income family, and some are even trying very hard to make ends meet. However, I do not think that it should affect our ability to show our appreciation towards others, especially family members.


Money cannot buy you happiness. Money doesnt make your world go round either. It is people that makes the world go round (people like your loved ones, your neighbours, your family, your doctor, your foe, your whoever.. you get my point).


We should all learn to be more appreciative of the things and people around us, don't you agree? ;)