a letter to mom | Mother’s Day 2025

I was going to write you a handwritten letter, or draw you something, but I figured since we’re on opposite sides of the world it could be best to make you a little virtual site/letter so this is that :)

(Sorry it is all in English by the way, I was thinking to write this/something poetic in Chinese but I figured it’d take me a bit longer and I feel like you’ll get the urge to correct my grammar and phrasing throughout my writing so this is just easier.)

Dear mom, 

I’m looking back on our photos − of you with me as a little girl, of me as a teenage girl, of me as a freshly new adult, and I was thinking about how you’ve not only been with me through every single chapter, but you gave me everything at every point of my life.

Every memory I have in my life that’s some kind of core memory wouldn’t have happened without your effort, your planning, your love, and I feel so grateful for all of it, always.

us through the eras

This is us through your (and/or dad’s) lens:

And this is you through my lens:

2009-11

  • Paris (Louvre), 2011

  • Paris, 2011

  • London (Eurostar), 2011

  • Tokyo, 2010

  • Tokyo, 2010

2012-14

  • Bangkok, 2013

  • 8th birthday, 2013

  • To Seoul, 2013

  • Seoul, 2013

  • Seoul (Holly's Cafe), 2013

  • Hua Hin, 2014

  • Hua Hin, 2014

  • Hua Hin, 2014

  • Bangkok, 2014

  • Bangkok, 2014

2015-17

  • New York, 2015

  • New York, 2015

  • New York, 2015

  • New York, 2015

  • Orlando, 2015

  • Osaka, 2016

  • Osaka, 2016

  • Osaka, 2016

  • Airport to Singapore, 2016 (I loved this photo of us so much)

  • Singapore, 2016

  • Bangkok, 2017

  • Barcelona, 2017

  • Barcelona, 2017

  • Barcelona, 2017

  • Whistler, 2017

  • Whistler, 2017

2018-20

  • Nagoya, 2018 (photo I took of you)

  • Nagoya (Legoland), 2018 (photo I took of you, I love this one)

  • Tokyo (Disney Sea), 2018 (I love this photo of us so much)

  • Lamma Island, 2019

  • Phuket, 2019 (you're gorgeous)

  • Phuket, 2019 (us in matching fits)

  • Phuket, 2019 (us in matching fits, again, but this time a different fit)

  • Sahoro, 2019 (my favorite mirror selfies of us x1)

  • Sahoro, 2019 (my favorite mirror selfies of us x2)

  • Sahoro, 2019 (you being pretty again)

  • Sahoro, 2019 (photo I took of you)

  • TST, July 2020 (photo I took of you again)

2021-23

  • Tai Tong (NYD), 2021

  • Harbour City (CNY), 2021

  • Starbucks, 2021

  • Teatime, 2021

  • Boat trip, 2021

  • Home, 2021

  • You being a Harry Winston model in my room, 2022

  • You being a Harry Winston model in my room pt.2, 2022

  • You being an Hermes model in the living room, 2022

  • You being an Hermes model in the living room pt.2, 2022

  • cute + flushed!, 2022

  • Us driving around the airport before you leave for Shanghai, 2022

  • Us driving around the airport before you leave for Shanghai, 2022

  • Us on call (you in SH, me on the 81 bus) after my Chinese IO, 2022

  • Us being cute in Singapore, 2022

  • Singapore pt.2, 2022 (except you probably don't know I took this)

  • You and dad being cute in Singapore, 2022

  • Fashionable you, 2023

  • Us at Pure Peninsula, 2023

  • Picking out prom fits with you?, 2023

  • My mom is so pretty, Zurich 2023

  • Us being cute again (yay), Zurich 2023

  • Photo I took of you, Zurich 2023

  • Photo of you I took (again), Zurich 2023

  • Zurich, 2023

And a special section for this one because of course I have to
single this out…

(we already know what this is 🤭)

(you sending me off to uni and live on my own for the first time + us being best friends both as adults for the first time…)

2023-25

  • Shenzhen, 2023

  • Oxford, 2023

  • London, 2023

  • London (Moulin Rouge), 2023

  • London (Moulin Rouge), 2023

  • UK cross-country rail, 2023

  • UK cross-country rail, 2023

  • You back in Oxford, 2024

  • London, 2024

  • Kyoto, 2024

  • Kyoto, 2024

  • Kyoto, 2024

  • Kyoto, 2024

  • Shanghai, 2024

  • Shanghai, 2024

  • Driving around home, 2024

  • Repulse Bay, 2024

  • HK Island tram, 2024

  • Christmas @ Landmark, 2024

  • Christmas @ Landmark, 2024

  • Shiro @ PP, 2025

  • Glasshouse @ K11 Musea, 2025

Everything I have that I am proud of, I know I only have because of you.

  • I wouldn’t have gotten into Oxford if you didn’t tell me about the John Locke essay comp…

  • I wouldn’t have gotten into CKY or St Catherine’s if you didn’t write my recommendation letters, bring me to a million extracurriculars…

  • I would be ten times more unfit than I already am if you didn’t make me go to the gym with you, or go for runs since I was a child, do sports with you (you know how lazy I am)…

  • I wouldn’t have been interested in arts if you didn’t bring me to Kids’ Gallery as a child, taught me how to draw, bought art supplies for me…

  • I wouldn’t have been interested in music if you didn’t put me in piano class for decades…

  • I wouldn’t have learnt English, Chinese, French, or really any language, if you didn’t send me to classes (Le Beaumont, AF), let me watch lots of shows as a child (Peppa Pig!!), teach me, …

The list goes on… point is, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am now without you, and I’m so grateful every day for everything you’ve taught me, the way you’ve nurtured me, and every amazing thing you’ve given me. I hope I continue to make you proud, and I hope one day I’ll be able to give back to you in return things that are even half as amazing as the things you’ve given me.

Every time I call you I’m looking forward to it so much, because you always understand me and you always know everything I’m thinking, everything I need, everything I love, everything I don’t, and everything in between -

So I just want you to know that even though I’m busy all the time and I don’t always text or call back, it doesn’t change the fact that I still always think about you and appreciate you and miss you more than I can tell you over words.

I love you so much, and happy Mother’s Day to the BEST mom in the world ever.

Thank you for everything. Illy!!!

Love, your darling daughter Seraph