--- title: Spending time, connecting ties description: As the Chinese proverb goes, “家有一老，如有一宝”, meaning, it's like having a treasure when you have an elderly at home. Elderly can teach us many things in life image: https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hubfs/banner_spendtime.jpg --- [![new-logo](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hs-fs/hubfs/2019-st-john/01-logos/new-logo.png?width=300&height=115&name=new-logo.png "new-logo")](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/home) - [Home](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/home) - Our Services - [Residential Care](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/our-services) - [Respite Care](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/respite-care) - [Can I Help?](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/will-you-help) - [Pray For Our Home](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/pray-for-our-home) - [Adopt us and choose us for your CSR](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/charity-adoption-csr) - [Volunteer My Time](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/volunteer) - [Make a donation](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/donate) - [New Building](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/building-a-new-home) - [Blog](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog) - [About Us](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/about-us) - [Milestones](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/milestones) - [Management Committee](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/management-committee) - [Financial and Other Information](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/financials-0) - [Awards](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/awards) - [News and Resources](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/media-news) - [Videos](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/videos) - [Whistle Blowing Policy](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/whistle) - [PDPA Policy](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/pdpa) - [Contact Us](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/contact-us) [search](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/spending-time-connecting-ties#cos-search) ** Search: #### Follow Us # Single Blog Page ## A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul. ## [Spending time, connecting ties](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/spending-time-connecting-ties) Date: 02-Aug-2021 Category: [Society](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society) [Family](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family) # Spending time, connecting ties Posted by [Monica Chia](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/author/monica-chia) on 2 Aug 2021, 10:19:00 ![Monica Chia](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e) # As the Chinese proverb goes, “家有一老，如有一宝”, meaning, it's like having a treasure when you have an elderly at home. # Learning and acquiring wisdom do not only happen in school.  Compassion, resilience, selflessness are learnt from examples and role models.  If we take time to observe the people around us, the elderly among us can teach us many things in life where the structures of a school setting will not teach. # Five students from the School of Business, Temasek Polytechnic, came together to share about connecting with their "treasure". # This is part 5 of 5 on what these teenagers learnt from their grandparents. ## Spending time, connecting ties (contributed by Loh Yang Yang) Grandparents are a true gift and blessing to us. Because of how they have loved and cared for our parents when they were growing up, our parents in turn learnt how to love and take care of us. My sister, cousin and I were fortunate to be taken care by our grandparents, *mah-mah *and *gong-gong,* when we were children. They would cook up a feast with expensive ingredients despite being frail as they aged. They would leave the best foods for us while they ate plain rice with soup, and make us happy in every way they know. *Mah-mah *and *gong-gong* adore and pamper us.  As time passes, the lively and boisterous household quietened down. My cousin and his family have emigrated to Malaysia while my sister and I started focusing on our studies and part time jobs. As such, it has become difficult for us to find time to visit *mah-mah *and *gong-gong*. *Gong-gong*, 77, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer 5 years ago. *M**ah-mah*, 72, is suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes. *Gong-gong* retired as a taxi-driver only 2 years ago, as he wanted to pay for their medical bills on their own, despite having regular financial support from my parents. *[Part 2: A selfless caregiver and role-model](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/selfless-caregiver)* Mahjong is their favorite hobby and activity. Pre-Covid, *mah-mah *and *gong-gong* would invite their siblings for a session of social Mahjong. Watching them shuffle the tiles and arranging it sequentially like a professional, I was intrigued to learn this mentally-engaging activity from the masters themselves. However, *mah-mah *and *gong-gong* discouraged my sister and me from picking it up as it might become gambling if not handled well. In my recent term-break, I visited and spent quality time with them. I also wanted to learn Mahjong from them. *Mah-mah *and *gong-gong* gladly "transferred" their skills to me as they were elated to see me after a some time time due to the heightened alert measures. I also realized I had so much to share with them. We should all appreciate the time spent with our grandparents and care for them the same way they have cared for us.  We can spend time and connect with our elderlies, with phone calls or buying them their favourite fruits occasionally.  *Mah-mah *and *gong-gong* have supported my sister and me in so many ways, some of which we may not even realize. ![](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-03-2021-07-06-46-23-AM.png?width=550&name=image-png-Jul-03-2021-07-06-46-23-AM.png) *Read other parts from this series: [Part 1: More than a Love Letter](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/more-than-love-letter) [Part 2: A selfless caregiver and role-model](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/selfless-caregiver) [Part 3: Showing compassion in our daily actions](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/showing-compassion-daily) [Part 4: Patchwork and patience](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/patchwork-patience)* ![Five students from the School of Business, Temasek Polytechnic](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hs-fs/hubfs/TP%20GpPic.jpg?width=400&name=TP%20GpPic.jpg) *Student contributors from Temasek Polytechnic, School of Business* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of St. John's Home for Elderly Persons. St John's Home for Elderly Persons is not a government-subvented Home and depend largely on the public's generosity to enable us to continue our work as a Registered Charity. Please support our Home by donating generously: [https://www.giving.sg/stjohnshomesg](https://www.giving.sg/stjohnshomesg) Topics: [Society](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society), [Family](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family) ### Recent Posts [#### Horse Therapy: Unfor... “I’m so excited, I’m so excite... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/horse-therapy-unforgettable-encounters) [#### Sharing SJH's Experi... “We would like to visit again ... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/sharing-sjhs-experience-in-eldercare) [#### Bringing joy & F... Have you ever felt that your l... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/bringing-joy-finding-meaning) [#### Celebrating Multicul... Our community at SJH is a micr... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/celebrating-multicultural-singapore-at-sjh) [#### Celebrating Voluntee... On 21 Nov, residents and staff... ](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/celebrating-volunteers) ### Categories - [Society (51)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/society) - [Wellness (45)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/wellness) - [Family (43)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/family) - [Aging (42)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/aging) - [Happiness (39)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/happiness) - [Leisure (33)](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/topic/leisure) ### Subscribe our Newsletter ## Want to work with us? [A wonderful serenity has](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/blog/spending-time-connecting-ties#) taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot. [![Contact us](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/290491/015d4692-6639-432d-bd04-5fbf0e43b97d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/290491/015d4692-6639-432d-bd04-5fbf0e43b97d) [![SJHEP-celebrating-Logo-01_220x88](https://www.stjohneldershome.org.sg/hs-fs/hubfs/SJHEP-celebrating-Logo-01_220x88.png?width=220&height=88&name=SJHEP-celebrating-Logo-01_220x88.png "SJHEP-celebrating-Logo-01_220x88")](http://www-stjohneldershome-org-sg.sandbox.hs-sites.com/home) Established in December 1958, St. John's Home for Elderly Persons is a Sheltered Home for elderly persons who are ambulant and aged above 60.  We are a Registered Charity and an Institution of a Public Character (IPC). Our Mission is to provide shelter and care to meet the physical and spiritual needs of elderly persons who have no home and no children or close relatives with adequate resources to care for them. 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