Things Singaporean Parents Always Say

There’s something about Singapore that makes us so unique: from our customs, to the way we talk, and the way we love – even when we are parents. Here are some phrases culturally unique to our childhood, or to local parenting styles. As someone from the “strawberry generation” – or so they call us – below are some examples that made us think that we had a rough childhood (our parents sure beg to differ though).

See la I told you!

We were such klutzes as children that we ended up with bruises on both legs simply by running or walking. When we ran and wound up bleeding, our parents will be the first to proudly exclaim: “SEE LA I TOLD YOU! RUN FOR WHAT?”

Instead of expecting sweet concern from our parents, Singaporean children are mostly greeted with a loud outcry that proves that our parents are always right; no sugar coating that they had in fact “told us so”.

You don’t know how to cook, how to get married like that?!

Notice how we added extra punctuation at the end of the sentence? That’s how Singaporean parents (mothers especially) would comment on Singaporean girls’ cooking, cleaning and other basic household skills. Apparently your level in these skills are directly linked to your ability to get hitched.

You treat your house as hotel is it?

Ah, the sweet words you hear when you reach home after a long day at school.

There’s an unwritten memo amongst parents to use this phrase to show their unhappiness (your absence at home or how late you are in reaching home), that they feel the need to compare you to a hotel guest. Honestly, if our homes were hotels, your body soap and shampoos will definitely be gone by now, pilfered by wandering hands.

You see (insert random cousin/friend/sibling’s name here), how come he/she can study so well then you cannot?

Or

You don’t study hard; later you become road sweeper than you know!

Growing up as a student in Singapore only means you get the worst of Asian parents. Case in point: when the average Asian parent says a B+ is not good enough, the average Singaporean parent says an A is not enough if someone else is better than you.

Basically, believe it when we say that as an Asian, you are practically a disgrace to your family line.

That being said, although our dear parents were undoubtedly harsh with their words, it’s simply their very stoic and Singaporean way of saying, “Love you la”!