Liu Ling Ling, Who Had Her Son At 50, Says She “Couldn’t Believe She Was Carrying A Baby” Until She Was 8 Months Pregnant
The actress, 59, said that being a mum at this age meant she had prepare her son, now 9, for the harsh realities of life.
When veteran actress and getai performer Liu Ling Ling, 59, appeared as guest on the first episode of A Night Under The Stars, she opened up about her relationship with her son Caleb, nine, and talked to host Darren Lim about the challenges of being an older mum.
Ling Ling and Caleb, together with Darren and his youngest son, Elliot, eight, spent a fun-filled day pitching tents, cycling, playing games and stand-up paddling. It was adorable to see the young ones forging a friendship as soon as they met and as Ling Ling put it, all it took was “three seconds for them to become friends”.
Ling Ling displayed clear affection for her son, Caleb, whom she conceived through in-vitro fertilization and bore at the age of 50. Naturally, being an older mum came with its own set of challenges as she revealed that some of the things she told him was borne of that reason.
“I knew I could lose him at any time because I was too old,” Ling Ling said, admitting that she had trouble believing she was pregnant until she was almost due. “I managed to conceive previously but I miscarried soon after,” she revealed. “So I felt very insecure during my pregnancy I knew I could lose him any time because I was too old. I couldn’t believe that I was carrying a baby in me. The reality of it finally only dawned on me when I was eight months pregnant.”
Morbid as it sounded, Ling Ling was also very realistic when it came to teaching her young son about the transience of life.
“To become a mother at this age, I feel that I need to prepare him for the harsh realities of life. I told him daddy and mummy will die of old age someday. I asked if he’s afraid to be left alone in this world,” she said, adding that she saw the need to build resilience in him no matter how heartbroken she felt about it.
The group then played a game where they had to hit a watermelon with a stick while blindfolded. After they were successful in the endeavor, they sat down to feast on the watermelon and some snacks while the parents had a chat about their kids.
When asked by Darren if there was anything about Caleb that surprised her that day, Ling Ling said that her son was very happy to be out with her and they had become closer as a result. Her son used to hug and kiss his dad all the time and was less demonstrative towards her, but she felt that spending the entire day together was a step in the right direction.
As the night came to a close, Darren and Ling Ling sat on the beach, reflecting on the activities of the day.
Darren complimented Caleb on his mature mindset, saying that though he did complain about ants earlier in the day, he was still a well-behaved kid who tried his best to cooperate.
As Ling Ling used to have a busy work schedule — what with juggling her duties as a stage performer and her acting jobs — she admitted that she couldn’t spend quality time with Caleb.
It was only when the pandemic hit that she had the opportunity to slow down and bond with her son at home. “Many times, if you were to ask me about his likes, dislikes and his fears, I wouldn’t be able to answer with conviction. It was only during circuit breaker that I felt closer to him,” she said.
“I might not have had any work then, but what I lost was inconsequential. I gained so much more instead. I finally started to understand him. He’s so happy to spend time together, even if I only had an hour to spare,” reflected the busy mum, who then sang a snippet of the song she wrote, dedicated to her precious child.
Photos: meWATCH
You can catch A Night Under The Stars on meWATCH to listen to the song Ling Ling wrote for Caleb, or watch the episode below.
A Night Under The Stars also airs every Wednesday at 8pm on Ch 8.
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