Originally posted by parn:
Well..it's only meaningful if the single mum managed to overcome
her own crisis and became wiser...at least upgrade herself...be it
her personality becoming stronger, living conditions improved,
letting go of the past.
Seems like the single mum haven't got any wiser, her living
conditions didn't improve... although she's hoping that it'll get
better, and she's still dwelling in her own sorrows of the past and
even plans to tell her daughter her sad/tragic story in the future.
OMG....never transfer your own past sorrows to your own children,
children won't be wise enough to understand and it will only make
them be more shameful and feel inferior in front of their peers.
They won't be able to enjoy their life as normal kids anymore once
they know that they're born from such tragic event. That stupid mum
watches too much soap dramas if she really thinks that her daughter
will be wise enough to understand. It won't make any difference
even if her daughter understands. Her daughter should be allowed to
live her life free and happy and with pride and away from all those
past sorrows/worries. It is best that she never tells her daughter
about anything about her shameful past or she might risk scarring
her daughter's life and her daughter might just end up like her mum
if she's unable to overcome this past nonsense.
Whatever unhappy events that are passed and over should be allowed
to be forgotten and never to be mentioned... even though not
forgiven.
This author choice of story is unwise and will influenced other
people who might be in the same dilemma before to follow in the
footsteps of the single mum and her resolution for her future.
Never allow tragic stories to duplicate itself and multiply like a
social plague...else our future generations will indeed be a
generations of mistakes and sadness and sorrows. Instead, stories
that are published to the public or will be read by anyone else
than the author herself, should be chosen wisely and should be
stories of inspiration and hopes and strengths and love. Because
everyone out there walking and breathing has their own sad story to
tell, there won't be a lack of demand for sad stories. Instead,
don't increase the troubles and frustrations of the common people.
Publish more stories of hopes, inspirations, strengths and love
instead...cos that's what is missing and greatly in demand in our
present society. 
Can't speak for her, but the single mother in the story didn't
seem to me to be that self-pitying as was made out to be. Her
background seemed to indicate that she could be the quintessential
"Ah Lian" of the Singapore heartland. I do not wish to generalise,
but many young girls these days do not get (or simply refuse) the
benefit of guidance from parents and teachers on the pitfalls of
being prematurely involved in a sexual relationship, making them
particularly vulnerable prey to beasts of lust.
My guess was that this article was published to serve more as a
warning to such naïve girls out there, to be more careful when
getting involved in a relationship; rather than as an example to
the unhappily married young mothers out there, to follow her
actions and traumatise their children with shameful family
histories.
That was also my intention when I posted this thread -- that
intention may be misguided as we already have more than enough
tragic stories here. This tragic story, however, is slightly more
meaningful (at least in my opinion) as it carries a social message
about the stigma on single motherhood and the possible
repercussions of abortion. Besides, as what some posters have
pointed out in other threads with stories of questionable
authenticity: if these stories could still serve as a reference
guide to readers in similar situations, then perhaps it isn't that
bad a thing after all.
As for personal stories of love, hope and inspiration, I have to
admit there are other posters here who have already done more than
a good job.
