It is 4am and 10-year-old Erwin Nair asks his mother if he can go to a LAN gaming centre.
Instead of saying "no" to Erwin right away, Madam Ernie Sumarni, 35, decided to take her son there so she could see for herself what the attraction was about.
She figured the outing would also give her an idea of what made him so rebellious, said Madam Ernie, who has four children aged between two and 16.
"My children always want to go out late at night. They said that things are more exciting during that time. So I decided to explore things with them at night and see for myself what is so exciting. "It is an experience that we have together as a family and it is also the time for us to bond as I have to work during the day."
Madam Ernie helps her husband in his car-polishing business.
Like most parents, Madam Ernie sets rules for her children. She takes Erwin to the cybergaming centres only during school holidays.
She said: "Today's kids are exposed to more things. You can't just say 'no' without explaining why. For me, I choose to explore things together with them, like a friend."
And it is at HDB void decks and neighbourhood parks that Madam Ernie bonds with her 16-year-old daughter, Erna.
She said: "It would be me, my daughter and her schoolmate Diana Teh. We buy soft drinks and snacks and just talk throughout the night.
"My daughter and I keep no secrets. She would share with me her problems and vice versa."
Madam Ernie is so close to her daughter and Diana, also 16, that she sometimes goes out with just the latter.
Last Wednesday, it was Diana, who had accompanied Madam Ernie to meet The New Paper on Sunday team. Diana told TNPS: "I always envy Erna who has such a cool mum. She can do so much with her. They are like friends more than mother and daughter."
Madam Ernie said: "I have been a teenager before and I know how young people feel. You need to be their friend for them to open up and share their problems with you.
"Of course, during times when I need to exercise my role as a parent, I will. I always tell them that I can be a mum, a friend or a sister to them, but ultimately they need to respect me as their mum."
This article was first published in The New Paper.
