Kids wash mums' feet on Mother's Day
Charity foot-washing event to celebrate Mother's Day
For nine-year-old Jocelyn Tan, Mother's Day yesterday began with a poignant gesture.
First, she served tea to her mother, Madam Karen Phoo, 48.
Then she poured water from a bottle into a large plastic basin.
Then, Madam Phoo took off her shoes and socks and put her bare feet in the basin.
Jocelyn used the water to wash her mother's feet gently, after which she used a small towel to wipe her mother's feet dry. She also told her mother that she loved her.
Madam Phoo then smiled and pulled her daughter to her side, hugged her and whispered "I love you".
Madam Phoo was among 50 mothers who had their feet washed at a Mother's Day Charity Foot Washing Ceremony at IMM Garden Plaza in Jurong East.
The event was organised by Nirvana Memorial Garden, a privatised columbarium in Singapore.
Local actress and veteran getai singer Liu Ling Ling hosted the event, which included a mass sing-along. Members of the audience also spoke about the importance of honouring their mothers.
About 100 people attended the ceremony and volunteers gave out flowers to each family after the foot washing ceremony.
Madam Phoo, who also has two sons, aged 16 and 19, said: "I have always explained to my children about the need to honour our parents and practise filial piety.
"When I learnt about the feet washing ceremony, I supported it and Jocelyn supported it too."
Jocelyn said it was the second time she had washed her mother's feet.
She washed them on Mother's Day last year at Nirvana's premises in Choa Chu Kang.
The Primary 4 pupil of Choa Chu Kang Primary School said: "I felt good washing my mother's feet and I didn't feel shy or that it was anything unusual."
Ms Samantha Wong, Nirvana's marketing manager, said the feet washing was an act of filial piety that reminded children of the times their mothers moved around to look after them when they were young. She said Nirvana hopes to make it an annual event.
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