Jaime Teo and Daniel Ong's Divorce- Co-Parenting in Singapore

We witnessed many celebrity divorces in 2016. From Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, to Johnny Depp and Amber Heard.

In Singapore, celebrity couple Jaime Teo and Daniel Ong announced that they have been divorced since August 2016. Jaime Teo is a former beauty queen turned TV actress while Daniel Ong is former radio DJ. Together, they co-own Twelve Cupcakes, which has 12 stores across Singapore.

Teo and Ong posted an almost identical message on their respective Instagram accounts on the last day of 2016. Each of them posted a picture showing their solo picture with their daughter Renee.

Renee is the priority- co-parenting in Singapore

The couple were married for 11 years. In the posts, Ong and Teo stated that they will stay as committed co-parents to Renee. They are focused on giving their daughter a normal childhood.

Remain as friends

Further, they will continue to be friends.

Message to the public

Ong and Teo asked for the public’s “kindness, prayers, and love” and that if they have something to say, “please let it be out of love and words of encouragement”.

They concluded by saying that the divorce has been “heartbreaking and a very tough time” but they can “look forward to a brand new 2017 and future”.

See: “Celeb couple and Twelve Cupcakes owners Jaime Teo and Daniel Ong announce divorce”, Today, 31 December 2016

Jaime Teo and Glenn Ong are well-known to many Singaporeans. While it is unfortunate that they have decided to part ways, I am glad that they have put up a united front- by announcing their divorce on the same day and in almost identical fashion. It shows the respect that they have for each other.

Co-parenting in Singapore

It is also telling that they have put up their individual pictures with Renee. The divorced couple indicated that they will remain as committed co-parents and are focused on giving Renee a normal childhood.

While divorce spells the end of a marriage, the couple will always be parents to their children. This is something that cannot be changed. Children, regardless of how young or old they are, will know that things have changed at home. It is important to provide children with a sense of security that there will always be someone watching out for them, caring for them and loving them.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development introduced several new programmes to help parents learn about co-parenting in Singapore, including programmes by the divorce support specialist agencies (DSSA), such as: