A Malaysian mother’s sacrifice to secure a better future for her child has drawn attention after she revealed how she monitored her young son through a surveillance camera while working in South Korea.
According to Sin Chew Daily, the mother, identified as Lai Yi, shared on Facebook that she brought her son with her to South Korea in hopes of giving him a better life. However, her circumstances left her with limited childcare options.
Lai said her employer did not allow her to bring her son to the workplace, and she was unable to find a nanny to look after him on weekends. As a result, she had no choice but to leave her son alone at home while she worked, keeping a close watch on him through a CCTV system installed in the house.
To ensure his safety and comfort, Lai prepared his meals in advance before heading to work. She also tried to stay connected by having lunch with him over video calls, hoping to make up for her physical absence.
Lai openly expressed the emotional toll of the situation, saying it was painful to see her child spending long hours alone without adult supervision.
“Given a choice, no one would want to leave a three-year-old child alone at home from morning until evening,” she wrote. “I can face life’s hardships, but what hurts me the most is knowing my son is alone with no one to care for him.”
Despite the hardship, Lai said the experience helped her son become independent at a young age. His resilience and understanding, she added, gave her the strength to persevere during moments when she felt like giving up.
She shared that her living conditions have since improved and that she now hopes to make up for the lost time with her son, who is now six years old. These days, she said, she chooses to spend her weekends at home with him instead.
