Anita and Chilam's Baby Talk

[Berri]

NOTE: The below Ming Pao Weekly article was written from Anita Yuen and Chilam Cheung's baby son, Morton Cheung's, perspective.



Hello everyone,

My name is Morton Cheung Mo Tung (張慕童). I was born two months ago. My Chinese and English names originated from my parents’ love and hate relationship towards me. [Morton and Mo Tung phonetically sound like 「魔童」"the evil spirit child"].

My Mommy, Anita Yuen Wing Yee, experienced various hardships as a first-time mother. When I am well-behaved, she would hug me tightly and say, “Son, even if you ask for my life, I will give it to you! I am willing to sacrifice everything for you!” However, when I am in a tantrum, I can recognize who is holding me. Perhaps I am used to her heart-beat or smell, but I will only stop crying when Mommy is holding me. At that point, she will say angrily, “You are really the evil spirit child! You give me such a hard time!”

My Daddy, Julian Cheung Chilam, came up with the idea, “How about we name our son Morton?” They researched Morton in the dictionary and the name means prairie and nature. I like the name, as a man should have a broad perspective in life and the name is close to nature.

When Mommy gave birth, she weighed 150 pounds. However she had to promote for her new movie, “Protégé” so she vowed to lose weight. Since I was born via C-Section, Mommy was unable to exercise rigorously after giving birth. About two weeks ago, Mommy felt the wound was properly healed so she took high temperature yoga classes, hoping the heat would accelerate weight loss. But the intense temperature caused Mommy’s capillaries to explode, so she switched to jogging instead.

Many people refer to my mother as Yuen Leung Leung [or “Pretty Pretty”]. She is the world’s prettiest mother to me; whether she is 150 or 200 pounds, I will accept all of her in entirety. However Mommy is also an actress, so she has to lose weight. She has already trimmed her weight down to 130 pounds, but her goal is 110 pounds. Since her height is 5 feet 7 inches, her normal weight range should be 115 to 118 pounds.

I hope she does not lose weight down to 110 pounds, as I would not be used to a skinny Mommy. Since birth, I am accustomed to a round and full-figured Mommy. Daddy also said that Mommy was very cute when she was plump.

Although only Mommy, Daddy, and my family have seen me naked, I like the skin-to-skin contact with Mommy. I was only breast fed for one month. Breast milk is easily digested, but takes 20 minutes to pump each time, not leaving much room for personal time. I am drinking milk formula now, which is just as nutritious!

Mommy needed a C-Section to give birth because I was in breach position, with my legs presenting first, instead of the proper birth position with the head downwards. The doctor suggested a C-Section since the surgery was low risk. My grandmother said, “In the past, this would have resulted in an extremely difficult labor!”

Since giving birth, Mommy has advised all her friends to have children early. Mommy said, “I fully support women having children. This process in life is amazing. Without giving birth you will not understand it! Each baby smile and cry will impact their parents whole-heartedly. Watching my son grow each day; you can not buy this experience with money.”

Mommy’s friends asked her whether she will be having additional children in the near future? Mommy said, “At first I thought I would have several children together, so that I don’t have to gain and lose weight numerous times. But I think we will wait another few years.”

Refusing to Film a Family Ad

Due to my parents’ fame as artists, many advertisers, such as milk formula and diaper brands, wanted to feature us as a family in their commercials. Mommy asked Daddy for advice, “The formula ads would offer a lot money!” But Daddy said slowly, “Have you seen Takuya Kimura film a diaper ad?”

My parents turned down offers to film ads together as a family. Mommy explained, “Since we have worked in the entertainment industry for years, we understand the level of pressure artists experience. We do not want our children to grow up under the same pressure. We want them to have normal and happy lives. Thus it is best to limit their public exposure.” Originally Ming Pao Weekly wanted to feature a large photograph of me, but due to Mommy’s concern for overexposure, the photographs were downsized.

Mommy will follow Grandma’s child-raising wisdom and wish that I grow up as a happy and healthy child. Mommy said, “I was not a good student, but my mother did not force me to study. My elder brother and sister showed talent in their studies, so my mother encouraged them. She raised her children based on their own individual skills, but advised us the consequences of what a good education would or would not do for us. It was entirely my idea to enter the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant.”

Mommy grew up in a stress-free environment and thus developed a cheerful personality. Although Grandma did not receive many years of education, she was a wise woman.

When Mommy was a student, she always studied last minute before examinations. However she had strong memory skills and will remember scripts after reading them once. But Mommy does have certain expectations of me, “A boy’s most important quality is his sense of responsibility. He needs to take care of the family and can not leave things incompleted half-way.”

Some of Mommy’s friends suggested that she apply for a good school for me in advance. But Mommy said, “We couldn’t even decide on the baby’s name; how can we apply him for Kindergarten in advance? Also we will choose his school based on his personality. If he likes to study, we will enter him in local schools. However if he enjoys freedom, we will let him study at an international school.”

Over the last two months, Mommy has grasped my basic personality. I can not be forced to do things against my will. For example, if I do not want to drink milk, I will refuse to do so even if the bottle is put in my mouth.

Daddy said wisely, “We will have to speak softly in front of our child, so that we can serve as good role models. Otherwise he may develop poor speaking habits.” In Hong Kong, many people have a blunt and impatient manner of speech.

To develop my independence, Mommy said that I will sleep in my own room when I grow a little older. She wants boys to have self-confidence and not rely too much on their mothers. Despite this, Mommy is always worried about me. Sometimes when I am not crying, she will hear things in her mind and think that I actually cried. Daddy noted that Mommy sometimes cried out in her sleep, “Son! Where is my son?!”

What are my features like? They are constantly changing! Sometimes my eyes look exactly like Daddy, while my nose and mouth look like Mommy! But Mommy said that sometimes I resemble a turtle or even monkey!

In the past, Mommy worked very hard to earn money. But after giving birth, she placed less importance on earning money. Originally a producer asked her to film a series in March. Mommy considered the offer, as she had rested for 1 year since becoming pregnant. But after glancing at me, she said, “Even if you give me a lot of money, you can not buy back memories. My son is growing each day and once you miss it, you can never recapture those moments again.”

In the past, Mommy used to argue with Grandma, but now she understands what motherhood means and the sacrifices parents give for their children. Grandma loves me a lot and wants to feed and diaper me all the time. But Mommy said, “Let me do it myself, otherwise I will never learn!” When the nanny took care of me, Mommy stood to the side and observed carefully.

When the nanny went on vacation, Mommy felt helpless and didn’t know how to respond to my cries. Even after feeding and a diaper change, I continued to cry. She carried me in her arms and started crying herself. But Mommy was brave and said, “I can not be so weak.” Mommy asked the nanny why babies often cry so much. The nanny said, “When babies are in their mothers’ womb, they are constantly nourished 24 hours. However when they are born, they are only fed every 4 hours and thus may cry due to insecurity.”

Mommy realized that sometimes she may have flashes of post-pregnancy depression. She said, “When I observe my mother cooking a laborious meal for me, my eyes would fill with tears.” Auntie Sandra Ng Kwan Yu also sent a text message asking how things were and encouraged Mommy to vent about any sense of frustration.

Daddy laughed at Mommy, “How can she be depressed? I’m the one who’s depressed!” During pregnancy, Mommy appreciated Daddy for his sensitivity and hard efforts. After I was born, Mommy’s friend posted a sign on our front door warning visitors, “Please wash your hands upon entry. Please do not carry nor kiss baby Morton as he is still an infant and has a weak immune system. Please wait for him to grow older before holding him.” Despite the straight-forward message, some visitors were repelled. But Daddy supported Mommy, “Okay no holding the baby means no holding the baby!”

Mommy had a very happy childhood and she wants me to grow up carefree and cheerful as well, with a forgiving heart. A boy should not be overly sensitive and carry grudges.

My godparents are Christine Ng Wing Mei and her husband, Kasey Lin Hoi Tong. When I turned 1 month old, we celebrated with a dinner with 5 tables.

Mommy cut a lock of my hair and kept it in her memory box, along with the clothes I wore on the day I left the hospital, my birth certificate, and donation letters bearing my name. Mommy plans to contribute to charity funds under my name each year.

Mommy filmed the movie “Protégé” 《門徒》 during her pregnancy because Derek Yee and Peter Chan Ho Sun jump-started her movie career. She said gratefully, “Without Derek and Peter, I would never have the career I have today!”

Derek had a deep impact on Mommy’s consequent actions. After the success of movie “C’est la vie, Mon Cheri,” Mommy bought a new sports car. Derek scolded Mommy, “So you think you’re a big shot now? Is your neighbor living your lifestyle? Next time when you film a role such as ‘C’est la vie, Mon Cheri,’ will people still believe you can act such a role?”

After listening to Derek’s words, Mommy sold the sports car the next day. Mommy said, “My pride vanished. I immediately sold the sports car and that’s when I felt I had self-improved.”


In the past, when Mommy acted in a movie, she portray it the way she wished. But during her pregnancy, it was the two of us, and not just herself anymore. Mommy took into account my feelings and whispered, “When the camera rolls, we will only be acting. Whatever I do, I have to be responsible to my son.”
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