Matilda Tao & 17-Yr-Old Son Open Up About Homesickness While Living In Singapore

Living away from home comes with its challenges, but for Taiwanese host Matilda Tao, 56, and her son Li Wu, 17, their time in Singapore was marked by homesickness, loneliness and a few moments they’ll never forget.

Back in 2024, Matilda moved to Singapore with Li Wu as he began his studies at an international school here. Now all grown up, the teen bears a striking resemblance to his dad, actor Li Liren.

Liren also spent a year shuttling between Singapore and Taiwan to be with him. The couple have since returned to Taiwan, leaving Li Wu to continue his studies while living in a school dormitory.

Their daughter, 19-year-old Lilian, is also overseas, studying in the US, making the family very much an “international” one these days.

And if you think that sounds glamorous, think again.

In a recent video with Vogue Taiwan ahead of Mother’s Day, Matilda and Li Wu shared snippets of their time in Singapore together, including the loneliness that came with it.

When asked who thinks about the other more often, Li Wu didn’t hesitate to point to himself.

“In Singapore, all the time. Every day I miss my mum,” he said.

The heartfelt admission caught Matilda by surprise. “Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed, clearly touched.

Still, like any mum, she couldn’t resist pointing out: “But I text you all the time and you never reply!”

“My mobile phone gets confiscated at 9.30pm. Then she texts me at 10pm asking what I’m doing. How am I supposed to reply?” he said.

Life in Singapore didn’t start out easy for the teen, and it was an emotional time for both mother and son.

Living alone and without friends at first, Li Wu admitted the loneliness hit hard.

“I had just arrived and didn’t know anyone. I only had my mum and we were both feeling really emo,” he recalled.

But amid the challenges, it was also in Singapore that they created one of their most cherished memories.

“It was my birthday…  she took me to Marina Bay Sands, we bought a macaron, put a candle in it, and just sang [the birthday song] together. That’s the most unforgettable memory for me,” said Li Wu.

But it wasn’t all sweet moments.

The pair also recalled their most memorable Mother’s Day, which didn’t quite go according to plan.

Matilda shared that she would have been happy with even a simple handwritten note. But when the day came, Li Wu had prepared neither a card nor a gift, leaving her “super angry”.

In a last-minute attempt to make up for it, he rushed out to a nearby mall and returned with a box of Lego flowers.

Romantic? Not quite.

“He told me, ‘You can assemble it yourself,’” Matilda said.

Li Wu, however, stood by his logic. “Real flowers don’t last,” he said.

“We were already feeling lonely living in Singapore, and you couldn’t even give me a little comfort?” she asked.

Thankfully, he later assembled the flowers himself and presented them properly, earning a hug (and forgiveness) from his mum.