She loved you before she even set eyes on you, she made sure your birthdays were the most talked-about parties at school, and had sleepless nights whenever you were down with a fever. She did cartwheels when you qualified for the national swimming team, dug into tubs of Baileys-tinged ice-cream with you (even at the expense of her figure) when your teenage crush fell for your best friend, and she continues to be your cheerleader even if she knows the path you’ve chosen may not always lead where you hope it will. And if you’re a parent yourself, she’s become the doting gran who’s ready to put down anything to care for her your children.

Mothers. They’re the epitome of unconditional love and unfailing dedication, it’s no wonder they’re so frequently quoted as the most inspiring figures in the lives of prominent individuals, making them truly Mother Superior. There really shouldn’t be a single day to celebrate them—they should be celebrated every single day! After all, who can keep mum about such an amazing woman in their lives?

These individuals tell Melissa Gail Sing about their relationship with their mother, from their favourite bonding activity to their mum’s quirks and strengths, and their mother’s famous words.

Cherie Sassoon
Psychology student Cherie is one of five children of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf’s Michelle and Victor Sassoon. Recently married and now residing in Hong Kong, she says that her mum is the mother she hopes to become one day.

 Cherie, flanked by her maternal grandmother and mother, at her wedding in Jerusalem

What’s the biggest influence your mother has had on you as an adult?
As an adult and having just got married, I have a different, more matured perspective of life. And it’s all thanks to her. I can only hope to give the same guidance, love and faith she gave my siblings and I to my own children one day. She is truly an inspiration as a mother and as a businesswoman.

They say mother knows best. Do you agree or disagree?
I definitely agree. An experience of this was when it came to dating. My parents had said “no” to someone whom I dated in the past and at the time I could never understand why. However, I followed their advice with blind faith and lots of heartache. Looking back, I realise that I really dodged a bullet!

What are your favourite things to indulge in together?
We are both foodies and like trying out the food at different restaurants. We have quite similar taste profiles, so the experience is even more enjoyable.

             Cherie (second from right) at age three with her mother Michelle Sassoon, and her twin sister Joelle (left)

What are your mother’s famous words?
She has many famous words! Recently, she shared one of her mottos with me: “What can be done now should have been done yesterday. Now is too slow”. This was in context of my procrastination!

What’s the best lesson your mum has ever taught you?
My mum taught me that anything is possible. She has a very unique mindset that I wish I could adopt. She honestly does not take no for an answer and perseveres!

Nada Jumabhoy
One of two children of Maniza and Iqbal Jumabhoy, Nada frequently joins her mother at society events, particularly charity events. The pair share an incredibly close relationship, right down to feeling peckish at the same time of the day, but there are things they can never agree about, like the colour purple. What amazes the young lawyer is how mothers seem to have this unbelievably large capacity to forgive and to love unconditionally.

 Maniza and Nada at a Chinese Women’s Association fundraising event

What’s your favourite childhood memory of your mum?
When she organised my 6th birthday party for 50 of my friends at the newly opened Night Safari. She fed and played games with the children at our house and then bused them to the Night Safari for a tour on private trams. As the place had only just opened, many people had never been there before. Needless to say, it made me very popular at school—many of my friends still remember that birthday.

What’s one distinct trait or feature you've inherited from your mum that you’re eternally grateful for?
Her good complexion. Although I did not inherit her skin tone, I am grateful for the clear complexion that I inherited from my mama.

What’s the one thing you can never seem to understand about her?
The fact that she insists on checking in three hours early for every flight!

     
Young Nada with mum Maniza on one of their outings

What are your favourite things to indulge in together?
Tea time! My mama and I both get peckish by the late afternoon and throughout my childhood, at 5pm every day, we’d have tea (when I was younger, I would have milk instead) and a snack, be it bhelpoori, cake or cheese biscuits.

What’s the best lesson your mum has ever taught you?
My mama believes that if you do something, you should do it well, otherwise don't do it. And she applies this personal maxim to every aspect of her life. Although I have a long way to go to be like her, I try to apply those words to my everyday life.

Justin Liok
One of four children of Monticello’s Serene and Tony Liok, Justin helps to manage his family office. He credits his mother for his Christian grounding which has greatly shaped his beliefs and values, and says that her strong sense of righteousness and tireless devotion to family have become his foremost bedrock—and one not easily matched.

                                                                     
Justin and Serene on a recent family holiday

What’s your favourite childhood memory of your mum?
The most vivid and poignant memory is of the times she would drive me to my swimming training sessions at 4am. She would wait and watch over me as I trained for more than two hours before dropping me off at school. She did this without fail for six days a week every year for six of my teenage years. It takes only a mother's love and dedicated support of her child’s passion to be able to endure something like that. Her great perseverance (among other valuable traits and life tools) is passed on to her child, invariably empowering him/her to be better equipped to handle the toughness of life to come.

Growing up, what kind of mum was she: a tough-loving Tiger Mum or a nurturing Panda Mum who takes her child’s lead? Or, was she in a class of her own?
She was everything and more. She doesn’t fully fit into any one stereotype or classification; she would adapt her parenting style to best suit the need at the time. She was capable of being strict or lenient, hard or soft, competitive or nurturing, fierce or merciful, and so on. But above all, she is first and foremost always a woman after God's heart. So much so that her every parenting style is grounded in the teachings of the Holy Bible.

What’s one distinct trait or feature you've inherited from your mum that you’re eternally grateful for?
Eternal is a very long time... thus the only trait or feature that would survive this very test of time would be that of loving and trusting God wholeheartedly. By her keeping me close to God until I personally chose to accept Jesus Christ in my life, she has helped me choose eternal life beyond our time here on Earth. There is no greater inheritance than this.

They say mother knows best. Do you agree or disagree?
Agree, beyond doubt. Throughout my growing up and rebellious years, Mum would profoundly expound on why being righteous is more important than satisfying instant needs and giving in to worldly desires. I would always think to myself, ‘What a bore, I can't relate to all that’. But all the nagging has, unsurprisingly, subconsciously embedded in me certain beliefs, values and principles. Today, I see the world through an enhanced heart, mind, soul and eyes, which my mother has helped to shaped. It has helped me to stay healthy, successful and morally upright, and I’ve become wiser in my choices concerning love, friends, career and life. Mummy really knows best!

                            Justin and his mother Serene during their younger days

What are your mother’s famous words?
She has uttered so many wise words that have left a lasting impression on me, but perhaps what’s mentioned most frequently is a biblical proverb which encapsulates the essence of how to really live: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths".

What’s the best lesson your mum has ever taught you?
She’s taught me not to let worldly wants and desires pull me from being and doing what I was truly created to be and do, which is to be good and do good things.

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