Coming Full Circle

One Thomson family welcomes a third generation

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and this couldn’t be more true for Joanne Yim and her mum, Madam Wong YT. Both women consider themselves reliable individuals with a deep, strong sense of duty and responsibility. “We’re very disciplined and ‘on the ball,’” says Joanne.

The soon-to-be mummy, who is expecting a baby girl in April, is the second eldest of eight children. Much of who she is and how similar she is to her mum is largely due to how she was brought up, she says. Mdm Wong was quite the disciplinarian, who enforced the importance of everyone playing their part in day-to-day chores to keep a household as large as theirs humming.

“On top of my homework, I looked after my younger siblings, and we were all in charge of the cooking and the laundry,” says Joanne.

Mdm Wong confirms this: “Formal education is, of course, important, but I feel that teaching my kids life skills – such as time management and personal responsibility – is equally important. Household chores, as with any job, have their unpleasant aspects, and learning to persevere and not give up helps mould their character.”

She reveals that she sees how this has helped her children become “selfstarters who have initiative, who are willing to work without complaining.”

Joanne herself attributes her confidence in stepping into her new role as mother to her firm upbringing. Husband Andrew Zhang agrees: “Her mum has taught her how to organise a household – something I think many people tend to overlook – and keep everyone alive!”

MUM KNOWS BEST