As Mother’s Day is nearing, we are here to share stories from our Guiders, on how they juggle the roles of being a teacher, a Guider and a mother, and how Guiding has impacted the way they nurture their own children.

Macrina has been a Brownie Guider for 13 years and is a mother to 4 kids. She strives to maintain a work-life balance and believes in allocating her time efficiently to help her get through her busy days.

Please share with us a bit about yourself 

I was a Brownie when I was in Primary 4 to 6 and a Girl Guide in Secondary School. I have been teaching in CHIJ Katong (Primary) since the start of my teaching career in 1998, so that makes it 22 years this year! I have been a Brownie Guider for 13 years and is serving as the Deputy East Division Commissioner. I am a mom to 4 kids – my eldest is 17 years old and my youngest is 6 years old this year. (Macrina with her kids) What is it like juggling work, Guiding and motherhood? I believe in work-life balance, putting things into perspective and allocate my time efficiently. I enjoy seeing my Brownies and feel encouraged and motivated when I get to impart my Guiding skills to them, such as teaching them campfire songs – I have fond memories of them! I am a hands-on mum, so when I am home, I give myself some time to catch up with them on their day and whatever help they need. Being a mom provides me with loads of love and joy and I strive to provide them with the best. Trying to balance work, Guiding and motherhood can be challenging at times, as each area has its own obstacles that I have to face and they keep me on my toes. But I believe that I will not be the person I am today without these experiences enriched by Guiding; they complete the person I am today. How has Guiding impacted the way that you nurture your kids?  Just like our Brownie Promise ‘I Promise to do my best, to do my duty to God”, I am a strong believer in my faith and I promise to bring up my kids the best that I can. My kids have been brought up to uphold the Brownie laws where they are kind to others, empathetic to the elderly, and to lend a hand to those in need.  I am very proud of them when I get feedback from the teachers of their little acts of kindness and their caring nature. (Macrina with her Brownies) What are some similar experiences you hope for the next generation to go through that you feel that you have benefited from? I hope that our girl members get to experience the bonding and camaraderie of sister guides during Guiding events and sessions including camps or campfires, Brownie revels etc. Participating in such events creates a strong bond with myself and the girls and it builds strong unbreakable friendships that go on for a lifetime!