Landing page banner
As Mother’s Day draws near, many families are finding their own ways to celebrate the women who are quietly holding everything together.
For Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Bernice Low, her story began long before motherhood.
Currently seconded to the Ministry of Home Affairs as Assistant Director (Workforce Planning) in the Human Resource Division, she previously served a number of operational and strategic roles in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) – as an Investigation Officer in Central Police Division in 2015, a Team Leader in Tanglin Police Division’s Emergency Response Team in 2018 and a Planning Officer (Strategy) in the Planning and Organisation Department in 2020.
Finding Love
It was during her early Police days that she encountered the love of her life. DSP Low met her husband, DSP Muhammad Hairul, in Training Command (TRACOM) in 2015, when they were both members of the same squad. Sparks flew and they got married in 2019. Today, they have a four-year-old daughter.
Their story also reflects Singapore’s multicultural identity, and the couple has built a home where their values and cultures naturally blend into daily life. “Our daughter experiences both cultures through our traditions, values and even the food at home,” she shared. “She especially loves spicy food and soup!"
Sometimes, their daughter even becomes the family’s little cultural ambassador: “She teaches us adults, including her grandparents, new words in different languages and shares cultural practices she picks up along the way.”
Balancing Work and Home
In 2020, DSP Low moved from frontline duties to take on a Planning Officer role, to better support her home life. Though she no longer performs frontline shift duties, she still has periods where she is required to work extended hours.
It isn’t easy balancing their hectic schedules and raising a young child. Still, the couple has built a routine that carves out pockets of family time. Their mornings usually start with school drop-offs and when schedules allow, they’ll try to pick their daughter up together.
“It gives us valuable time to connect as a family, even if it’s just during a car ride,” she said. “We make it a point to share about our day when we meet – the challenges; the small, happy moments; even what we just had for lunch!”
Evenings are kept simple. After work, they will spend some play time with their daughter, followed by dinner together. “It’s a continual balancing act,” admitted DSP Low, “but we make a conscious effort to prioritise family time.”
Communication is also key to keeping things running smoothly. “We give as much notice as possible about upcoming commitments, so that we can make the necessary arrangements, especially when it comes to caring for our daughter,” she said.
Lessons from Motherhood
Being a mother has taught DSP Low to be more intentional with her time and be fully present in those moments. Being a Police officer has also shaped the kind of mother she wants to be. She hopes to pass on the values she’s learnt in service to her daughter – to be resilient, kind and brave.
“Even when I’m exhausted after a long day, I remind myself to push through because I know she’s watching and learning,” she said.
And her daughter, as it turns out, is a surprisingly effective accountability partner. “Being with her reminds me to live out those values,” she added.
DSP Low hopes that her daughter will come to see the bigger picture behind being a Police officer. “I hope she sees our work as being more than just about catching bad people,” she said. “It’s about doing the right thing with empathy and purpose – being there for others, listening, calming situations, solving problems and helping where you can.”
Celebrating this Mother’s Day
To DSP Low, the joy of being a mother lies in the small, everyday moments. Watching her daughter grow, seeing her pick up new skills, make new friends, explore the world with curiosity; even something as simple as school pick-up still feels special.
That perspective also shapes what she wants to teach her daughter most. “To stay grateful, find joy in the little things and keep her sense of humour,” she said.
As for Mother’s Day, for DSP Low, it’s an occasion to appreciate mums a little more than usual. Rather than the grand gestures, she’ll prefer to have new shared experiences, like baking together!
Wishing all mums in blue a Happy Mother’s Day!
