Singapore Tatler Jewels & Time cover girl, Dimple Aswani arrives at Sofitel Sentosa’s villa with her daughter ― 14-month-old Angel ― and bags of outfits for our Mother’s Day shoot.

The night before, Angel had not slept enough. “She was up most of last night, so now, she’s napping,” the mother of two tells us. While Angel catches up on sleep, makeup artist Brenda Lye preps Dimple before she steps out in an Oscar de la Renta dress, slips on killer heels and is ready to nail the shoot. When Angel is awake, she joins mum and the photoshoot goes into full swing.

It’s the first time the mother and daughter are posing for a photoshoot together, and while Dimple has been seen on the pages of Singapore Tatler, Angel is still very new to the scene. “It’s her second time doing a photoshoot,” the affectionate mum reveals. A little tickle, as well as several twirls and peek-a-boos later, the wide-eye princess’s face lights up and smiles for the camera. “My baby Angel is a little ball of spitfire, full of joy and she’s always laughing and smiling.”

Here, Dimple pens down what she would like to share with her second child, Angel.

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Dear Angel,

When I first became a parent, pregnant with your brother Aaron, daddy and I went a little nuts by following exactly what all the parenting books told us to. And having that amount of information in my mind made me a little bonkers. But by the time I had you, I was definitely more relaxed and felt less of a need to refer to those “guide books”.  

While I was expecting you, I enjoyed eating and travelling. All of us ― daddy, Aaron, you and I ― went on holidays in London and Sydney before you arrived and we shared many wonderful memories there.

Growing up, you’re always laughing and smiling. Mummy hasn’t thought much about what I expect from you, but all that I pray for is for you to be strong ― both physically as well as emotionally. I also want you to know that I’ve never wanted to be a controlling mother to both you and Aaron. So, remember this: Sometimes, society may frown upon or put rules to our actions and choices, but you should always chase your own dreams and never back down on them, as well as your ambitions. Whatever your brother can achieve, you can do the same too!

Your grandma has instilled in me a love for reading, and it has brought immense joy and a deeper understanding of human emotions to me. I’d like to share with you the inspiring words of Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese-American poet whose work I’ve admired over the years.

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

(Excerpt from On Children by Kahlil Gibran)

Love,

Your mum.

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Photography: Darren Gabriel Low, assisted by Darren Chan.
Hair and makeup: Brenda Lye, PaletteInc.

See the rest of the three-part Mother's Day special. Michelle Eng and Jade Kua join us for our Letters from Mum series.

Still searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift? Scroll through our gift guide now.