It is with joy that we celebrated our Operations Manager, Kai’s, fifth anniversary at Lil’ but Mighty! To commemorate the occasion, Kai who has always had a love for writing contributed a piece to share her journey and reflection from these five years. We hope that her heartfelt sharing will encourage all who read it and we look forward to more fantastic years with Kai!
“I have a confession to make,” I said on my first day at work. “I’m getting a divorce.”
My new bosses were very kind to take me to lunch, and remembering how heavily pregnant I was during my interview, naturally asked how my son was easing into being korkor and how my husband and I were adjusting to life with #2. I hated the drama over a casual lunch—but I hated the lie worse.
I came on board Lil’ but Mighty during the worst season of my life. I grappled with learning new things at a new workplace and new things in the courtroom. I had never set foot in a court of law before. There was something about the place that made your skin crawl with guilt. Long wooden benches at the Family Justice Courts were ice cold from the blaring air-conditioning. I sat trembling and alone listening to a father on parole negotiate custody. The summons said you didn’t need a lawyer for the first hearing, so I came by myself. The crippling fear of losing my children choked each laboured breath I took. I hadn’t been a permanent resident for long. I had no family in Singapore except a sister. I was going to lose.
“Not without a fight!” My sister roared at me—almost every day that year, reminding me that growing up, they called me small but terrible. Little but mighty, if you will. I revelled in God’s sense of humour when just weeks later, I stepped into Lil’ but Mighty.
I’ve been in operations for almost a decade and accepted an operations role here too. But my previous industry was not in education. I had never heard the acronyms PSLE, DSA, GCE O-Level, AL1-8, or WA before. I was beginning to think my new job was part of some secret code society. And for the life of me, I couldn’t understand the difference between tuition and enrichment classes. They’re all just after-school classes, aren’t they?
I was in a daze.
I wanted to give up but there was something about solving problems that always got me hooked. Plus, clueless as I was, somehow no one at work made me feel stupid. At every turn, my questions were answered and it wasn’t long before my brain went into decoding mode. I finally knew what Paper 1 and Paper 2 were! What a revelation.
Lil’ but Mighty stood behind me as I charged at life. Lily and Lenard were an unwavering support each day I came to work and each day I went into court—a battle that took 2 years of my life and my first 2 years at LBM.
“I have stable employment,” I declared to the judge in an interim hearing. “I am able to work from home and care for my children. I am committed to my children’s wellbeing and my workplace is a strong advocate of the home and family.”
That was a powerful testimony in court—and one given in steadfast confidence only because of LBM. People may cringe (even roll their eyes) when they hear someone say—we are a family at work. But when I say we are a family at Lil’ but Mighty, I mean it with every bone in my body.
Here I found magnificent human beings who understood and genuinely cared for me, even for my children. I met kindred spirits who found Lil’ but Mighty to be an oasis too—whose past working conditions may not have been the most pleasant, and whose paths led them here, where they found a safe and creative space, healthy relationships and an anchor amidst life’s challenges.
My children have also found joy in being a part of the LBM community. They have become huge fans of Ketchup and Lil’ but Mighty videos—so much so that when my son’s school teacher played an LBM video in class, his hands were raised throughout the entire clip. He said he couldn’t wait to tell his teacher that his mum works at Lil’ but Mighty. It’s quite something to be proud of what you do, and quite another when your children are too.
It has only been 5 years since I joined LBM, but it feels like 10 because I have grown so much professionally and personally—more than I ever expected. My life was a burning building and Lil’ but Mighty was my safe refuge—a place of healing. Not many can say the same about their workplace.
Five years ago today, I wouldn’t have guessed the makeshift scaffolding we built in operations would become a solid foundation. I never would have thought I could live beyond my trauma, much less help others grow.
I would have scorned myself for saying anything remotely positive like co-parenting isn’t so bad.
I never would have dreamt my kids and I could build such a beautiful home together.
Yet here we are. Here I am—one ceaseless prayer after another—ever so delighted to be proven wrong.
Through chaos and peace, Lil’ but Mighty has journeyed with me. It is a place that isn’t afraid to be ambitious and cast big dreams—yet at the heart of it, values people above all and recognises life is still more important than work.
To the trembling woman in court five years ago, I say: Hold fast. This too shall pass.
