05/04/2026
I used to be afraid of animals.
Dogs, cats, birds, chickens, ducks, rabbitsâ
almost every âlovelyâ animal⌠I was afraid of.
Growing up, I was told:
they are dirty,
they carry germs and viruses,
they might bite or scratch,
they are troublesomeâshedding fur, making a mess,
and expensive to care for.
So I grew up without the companionship of animals.
And only much later in life did I realiseâ
there was a quiet sense of loss in that.
Even a little bit of shame.
Because deep down,
I always knewâŚ
I loved them.
I was just afraid.
______________
As I grew older,
I started spending time with friends who had petsâ
who treated them as family.
And something in me shifted.
I realised⌠maybe fear is something I can unlearn.
I realizedâif those are real concerns,
then I can simply find ways to meet them with care and thoughtfulness.
I can keep them healthy and clean through regular cleaning.
I can provide safe spaces so they feel secure, and we can interact gently.
I can learn their signals, so both they and I can live happily together.
I can plan responsibly for food, shelter, and medical care,
so that every challenge becomes an opportunity to love them well.
______________
And then, Lumi came into our lives.
Lumi was a stray cat who had been wandering around Eco Botanic for about three years.
She stayed near construction sites,
and thankfully, kind people in the neighbourhood would feed her.
Our atelier used to be there.
One day in November 2025,
she was sitting right at the bottom of the stairs I needed to walk up.
I gently âmeowedâ at herâ
and she came to me, without hesitation.
I was still a little afraid.
That inner child voice was still thereâ
Will she scratch me? Bite me? Attack me?
But I prepared some food for her anyway.
She looked so thin⌠so hungry.
After eating, she left.
And I didnât see her again for a week.
______________
The second time I saw her,
it was a heavy downpour.
She walked upstairs on her own
and sat quietly outside, waiting for me to open the door.
She looked helpless.
Like she just needed a place to stay dry⌠and feel safe.
I let her in for a few hours.
And for the first time, I thoughtâ
Maybe I could give her a home.
But after the rain stopped,
she meowed and meowed, asking to leave.
So I let her go.
______________
That night, there was another storm.
And I regretted it deeply.
Where would she go?
Would she be safe?
That was the moment I made a promise to myselfâ
If she ever comes back again, I will keep her.
______________
A few days later,
she came back.
And again⌠it was a stormy day.
This time, I didnât hesitate.
I chose her.
And I chose to be responsible for her life.
______________
We brought her for vaccinations,
had her spayed, groomed, and cared for.
She took some time to adjustâ
from a life of freedom and wandering,
to one of safety and being cared for.
Between freedom and safety,
I chose safety for her.
______________
And thatâs when I truly got to know her.
She is gentle.
Easy-going.
Incredibly intuitive.
And so naturallyâŚ
she became part of our childrenâs world.
______________
Sometimes, a child would say,
âI donât feel like coming to school todayâŚâ
But when they hear,
âYou can play with Lumi today,â
something shifts.
They find their courage again.
______________
Lumi is not just a pet.
She is a family member, a bridge.
For children who are slower to warm up,
who find it hard to connect with othersâ
it becomes easier through her.
They learn to wait for their turn to feed her,
to observe her responses,
to approach gently, to connect.
______________
We also guide children to understand âcat languageâ:
đž When Lumi gives a slow blink
â she is showing trust and affection
đž When her tail flicks quickly or her ears go back
â she may feel uncomfortable and needs space
đž When she comes close and gently rubs against you
â she is seeking connection
Children begin to understandâ
animals have voices too.
And when Lumi shows she needs space,
we stop. We respect that.
We donât teach children to âdo whatever they wantâ with animals.
We guide them toâ
đą understand othersâ feelings
đą respect boundaries
đą show gentle, genuine care
______________
We believe this deeply:
A childâs relationship with animals
can be one of the most natural ways to develop empathy.
Through these everyday moments, children are buildingâ
⨠emotional awareness
⨠empathy and compassion
⨠self-regulation
⨠social connection
Because they are not learning through instructionâ
they are learning through feeling and responding.
______________
We are so lucky to have Lumi.
She found a home.
And in her own quiet way,
she has become something very special in our space.
And perhaps,
we are learning alongside the children tooâ
how to love a little more gently.
______________
Sometimes, as adults, we may find ourselves wonderingâ
what do we receive in return, for all that we give?
And yet, when we slow down enough to noticeâŚ
Lumi has already been giving, all along.
Her trust.
Her quiet presence.
The way she chooses to come close, again and again.
A kind of love that is steady, uncomplicated,
and never asks for anything back.
______________
In our space,
we donât focus on teaching children
âwhat can I get in return?â
Instead, we gently guide them to experienceâ
đą what it means to give
đą how to care, without conditions
đą how to be thankful, rather than keeping score
Because sometimes,
the most meaningful things we receive in life
are never the ones we can measure.
