Singaporean content creator and mum @mikkkowen, currently living in France, has been openly sharing her thoughts on whether to stay abroad or return home—now with a five-month-old baby in the picture.
Through a series of Instagram videos posted over the past week, she reflects on parenting across cultures, the realities of life in France versus Singapore, and why language, safety and everyday convenience are increasingly shaping her family’s next chapter.
“He’ll Be Attending Chinese Playgroup”
In her second video, posted four days ago, @mikkkowen shared a moment that struck a chord with many Singaporean parents living overseas.
“He doesn’t know it yet but he’ll be attending Chinese playgroup once he hits 3 years old,” she says, referring to her son.
She explains that one major reason she and her husband are considering moving back to Singapore is their hope to raise a trilingual child. Being in an environment where Chinese is widely spoken—and taught formally in schools—matters to her.
Since they would most likely enrol him in a local Singapore school, she believes he would naturally have more opportunities to learn and use Chinese.
“I personally think that Chinese is a very important language and I would like my son to master it,” she says, adding that being able to speak multiple languages is something she views as one of the best gifts she can give her child.
Why Language Matters So Much to Her
For @mikkkowen, this is not about rejecting life in France. Instead, it is about recognising what different environments offer, and what they don’t.
She openly admits in the comments that she herself is not very good in Chinese, which makes immersion even more important.
When one commenter suggested that she simply speak Mandarin to her son at home, she replied honestly:
“Problem is I’m not very good in Chinese.”
Others chimed in with reassurance, sharing how their own children picked up multiple languages naturally. One parent shared that their kids grew up speaking four languages—Mandarin, Malay, English and German—without attending international school.
In response, @mikkkowen expressed encouragement and curiosity, agreeing that children absorb languages quickly when they are young and saying she plans to create as much exposure as possible while still in France.
Stay Abroad or Move Home?
Her first video, posted a day earlier, zooms out from language to the bigger question many overseas Singaporeans eventually face: stay abroad, or move home?
After having a child, she says, she and her husband are actively considering returning to Singapore for several reasons—chief among them stability and safety. She also adds, candidly, that lower taxes play a role.
At the same time, she is careful to stress that this is not about disliking her life in France. She shares that she genuinely enjoys the slower pace there and feels grateful that her child’s early years are being spent close to nature.
However, becoming a parent has changed what she values day to day.
Efficiency and convenience, she explains, now matter much more to her, and between the two countries, Singapore stands out clearly in that regard.
Redefining What “Home” Means
One point she returns to repeatedly is the idea that moving back does not equal failure.
“Many might think moving back home means you’ve fail,” she reflects, but adds that she has come to see things differently.
To her, home is no longer a destination or a symbol of success abroad—it is a priority. And right now, that priority is making life work for her child and trusting that the choices they make as parents are the right ones.
In her words, moving back home simply means “unlocking a new chapter”.
Convenience, Safety, and the “Little Things”
In the comments, other parents echoed her sentiments, particularly around daily life with a child.
One follower pointed out how much Singapore’s infrastructure supports families—nursing rooms, accessible toilets, sheltered walkways, everything under one roof in a mall, and food options everywhere.
@mikkkowen agreed, saying these were the small things she once took for granted but now deeply misses.
While France will always remain part of her life—especially since her husband and son are French—she shared that she does not miss the bureaucracy and inconvenience that often come with daily life there.
Community Reactions: Language, Identity, and Opportunity
The conversation quickly expanded beyond her own family.
Some commenters highlighted how speaking Mandarin can open up job opportunities in Singapore. Others debated the reality that many people educated in local schools still struggle to speak Chinese.
@mikkkowen agreed with that observation, noting that some even take pride in it—something she finds sad.
There were also voices advocating strongly for bilingualism or trilingualism, especially for children with multicultural backgrounds. Several parents shared their own setups at home, mixing Mandarin, English, Malay, French or Dutch, and emphasised that exposure—not pressure—was key.
In response, @mikkkowen shared that she hopes her child will not only speak Chinese, but eventually be able to read and write it too—something she feels Singapore is better equipped to support.
Not an Easy Decision, But a Shared One
For many viewers, her videos resonated deeply.
Some shared that they, too, were preparing to move back to Singapore after years abroad, grateful for the time spent raising their children close to nature but ready for the support systems back home.
@mikkkowen responded warmly, acknowledging how difficult the decision can be and wishing others well as they start life back in Singapore.
Find @mikkkowen’s video here.
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
“Why I’m Hesitant to Raise Kids in the West” — A Singaporean Shares Her Perspective
Singapore Mum Shares 7-Month Helper Costs, Prompting Discussion on Pay and Expectations
Singapore Mum Proudly Shows Baby Her Husband Working on Garbage Truck; Viewers React With Love
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