Annie Brook is another incredibly strong and capable single mother. Annie Brook has raised her son Teekayu with her own two hands. She says she is very proud of her son—both talented and well-behaved—and many people admire him as well.
Recently, Annie Brook gave an interview to Thairath Entertainment about how she would feel if one day her son chose to cut ties with her. Annie answered that it would be okay; no matter what, the mother-child bond cannot be completely severed. She believes that when he has his own family, he will understand and come back to her—it just might take some time to rebuild closeness.
Many people admire her son on social media. Do you feel proud?
"I’m happy. Everything I post on my page reflects my pride in my son."
Are you proud to be a single mother raising him on your own, now that he has grown into a handsome and talented young man admired by many?
"Every drop of sweat, every baht, everything I’ve invested—just now, even though he hasn’t yet achieved life success or a wealthy career, I’m already very happy and proud. I also thank everyone who cares for him (hands pressed in a wai)."
How would you feel as a single mother if your son decided to cut you off?
"Go ahead, my son (laughs). It’s okay. I raised him, but I don’t own him. Nowadays, we don’t always eat meals together. If he grows up and we don’t eat together and I feel a bit down, I don’t mind. I prepare his food and let him eat while playing games or doing homework. I eat my own food. Except for special moments like birthdays or special occasions, then we eat together, just the two of us."
She makes these moments normal, like gifts—not only on special days but whenever he wants or needs something, like if his shoes wear out, she buys them immediately without waiting for a special occasion.
If one day he says goodbye and moves abroad, she says, "Okay, then I’ll move to the countryside and grow my own vegetables."
Wouldn’t you feel sad if your son, whom you raised with your own heart, announced cutting ties?
"I would be happy for him. That means I succeeded, having raised someone who can live without me. Of course, worry and love are natural feelings. If he cuts ties because of anger or conflict and I have upset him, then I’m at fault. If I apologize and he doesn’t forgive me, that’s okay. I have to accept it. Honestly, my relationship with my son hasn’t always been smooth; there have been likes and dislikes."
"He is my son, a human being, not a robot. If one day he leaves, I pray for his happiness and wish he won’t suffer. But if he struggles and fails in life, I hope he will come back home."
Would you feel sad if you argued and cut ties?
"At first, probably like everyone else. But we need to prepare ourselves now, not wait until conflict arises. From the moment you have a child, accept that one day they will leave—not in anger, but because they have their own life. That is 100% certain. We also have our own lives and dreams that we may not have fulfilled while raising them. Now is the time to live those dreams."
Annie, you seem to have accepted things and are not clingy with your child, right?
"Some may say this is easy to say now because he doesn’t have a girlfriend yet. But I say you don’t have to wait for that—he has friends and is attached to them. We raise our children with understanding and genuine compassion, not with an 'I’m the mother' attitude. We can only be their mother from ages 1 to 10; after that, we become friends, advisors, and sometimes mothers. I’m lucky to be a mother in the internet age with ChatGPT to help answer questions, so I don’t have to open books. I accept things as they come. It may be difficult at first, but it’s possible. Even if he’s attached to friends, as a son, he will still have moments of affection."
Do you agree with the saying, 'Blood is thicker than water'?
"I agree. I built a close relationship with my son, even sleeping beside him when he was little. This is the most important thing in the world. When people come to me saying their child won’t talk to them, I advise starting immediately. First, don’t scold your child over serious issues, because next time they won’t come back. If you judge them as right or wrong, they will avoid you. I never judge him; I ask if he needs help and give examples from my own perspective. It’s more like advising than teaching, so he feels comfortable and wants to be near me."
What would you say to those whose children don’t talk or want to be near them?
"I want to say that if you have been cut off, believe that one day they will come back. When they have children of their own, they will understand and return. We wait for that day. But if they don’t come back, that’s okay. We raised them to fly freely. They have left the nest, and that is our great success—raising someone who can live without us."
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