Nurul Aini Shares Heartwarming Story About Her Son, 11, Who Lent Money To A Less Fortunate Classmate The Whole Year Without Telling Her

When kids hide something from their parents, it’s usually something not-so-good that would get them into big trouble.

But for Nurul Aini, the ‘secret’ she found out from her 11-year-old son Shan Ehan recently made her feel like a super proud mama.

On Thursday (Nov 25), the 39-year-old actress took to Instagram to share “a little story” that the boy, her eldest of three children, had been “keeping” from her, and it’s super heartwarming.

According to Nurul, Shan said that one of his teachers had called him “kind” the other day. When she asked why, he explained that it was ‘cos he lent money to a classmate who “always doesn’t have money to eat during recess”.

“His parents didn’t give him enough for food and [drinks]. So he will usually just buy a drink and [won’t] eat. I feel bad so I gave him money,” Shan told his mum, adding that his classmate pays him back after that.

Food at the school canteen costs $2 and drinks are 60 cents, but his classmate was only getting $1, or sometimes $2, from his parents.

Nurul was shocked at the prices and wondered if she was giving the children enough money as their daily allowance is also $2. “ALAMAK that means I haven’t been giving you guys enough too???” she exclaimed to Shah.

However, the boy reassured her that he was fine as he doesn’t spend money on beverages and drinks from his own water bottle, so he always has enough.

Not only that, he saves up any remaining cash he has from the day. Nurul confirmed this, recalling that she once saw “$9 worth of coins in his wallet”.

After promising to increase his allowance next year, Nurul asked how Shan’s classmate is able to pay him back if he doesn’t get enough money in the first place.

Shan hesitated before admitting that he doesn’t get paid back in full. “Mummy, you [don’t] scold me ok? But sometimes I only take 20 cents back. Because he so kesian (pitiful) la Mummy. I [don’t] have the heart.”

Instead of scolding him (why would she?), Nurul said that Shan shouldn’t even accept the 20 cents if he pities his classmates so much, but he had an explanation for that.

“But I have to,” Shan said. “Because teacher always [asks] him if he already paid me back. I [don’t] want him to get scolded so I take 20 cents instead of [the] full amount so that teacher [won’t] scold him for not paying me back.”

“My heart just sank,” Nurul gushed. “My child, your sweet sweet heart. What have I ever done to deserve you, Shan. And he has been doing this the whole year. I didn’t know a thing about it. So he apologised for not telling me. But how do I even blame him?”

That said, Nurul reminded Shan that it isn’t good to lie either, and suggested that he talk to his teacher in private and say that he just wants to help his friend and doesn’t mind if he doesn’t pay him back. He agreed to do so.

“I am a mother with an 11 year old son who is always the one to remind me to be generous and kind to everyone and not have to show it to the world,” Nurul wrote. “Putting it here because you are so precious to me, Shan. Without you realizing it, you are teaching me more about life than I am teaching you. (sic)”

While Nurul claims that it is Shan teaching her to be selfless, she herself has been a really good example to her kids: A few months ago, she helped to raise RM100,000 (about S$32,000) in two days for the needy in Malaysia who are struggling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.