Fanty Soenardy On Parenting, Her Values And Passions

Now that her two children are entering adulthood, Fanty Soenardy is also embarking on the next phase of her life. In celebration of mother’s day this month, she chats with annabel tan about parenting, her values and passions.

- Annabel Tan

Fanty Soenardy is a woman of many passions. The Indonesia-born Singaporean enjoys cooking and baking up a storm, keeps fit with Muay Thai, loves fast cars, and is a fashion and jewellery fiend – just to name a few. Above everything else, however, she loves being a mother.

Meeting with me over afternoon tea at The Drawing Room in The St. Regis Singapore, the 49-year-old has recently returned from Paris and London, where she was visiting her 22-year-old daughter, Louisa, a second-year Economics student at University College London. Her son, Dillon, 20, is currently performing his National Service before returning to New Jersey to complete his university education.

As a homemaker, Fanty has always been close to both her children and admits that sending them abroad for school was one of the toughest decisions she has had to make as a mother. “I think the biggest worry for parents when their children go overseas is that they won’t come back,” she says. “But I realised that when you have brought them up to have good character and built a close bond with them, it doesn’t matter how much freedom you give your kids because they will always come home. I can also trust them to protect themselves there and make the right choices.”

Also recognising that her children’s interests lay overseas, she had to let go. “I cannot stop them just because I can’t bear to part with them,” Fanty adds. “I also cannot show that I’m sad because that will hold them back. They need to pursue their goals and dreams and when I see that they are happier there and more independent, I know that I’ve made the right decision.”

NATURE AND NURTURE