If the world feels heavy today, maybe this bit of good news will lift you up. Desmond Tan, one of Singapore’s most beloved actors, is about to step into fatherhood again. And this time, he is letting his heart lead the way, eyes wide open, arms outstretched.
On April 3, the 38-year-old Mediacorp star took to Instagram to share the kind of post that instantly warms your feed. His wife is pregnant with their second child, a baby boy. In a short video clip filmed at a photography studio, the couple stands with their eyes closed. Then their one-year-old daughter walks in, handing them a bouquet of blue flowers. Gender reveal, toddler edition. Simple, sweet, and powerful in a way only family moments can be.
In the caption, Desmond wrote, “Blessed beyond measure. Our little family is growing, and we can’t wait to welcome our baby boy into the world. Having our firstborn reveal the gender of her sibling means the world to us.”
He didn’t say how far along his wife is. He didn’t show their faces either. But somehow, the message felt more personal than ever.
You know this isn’t just another celebrity update. This is a story of parenthood that hits close to home, especially if you’re a mum or dad juggling your own chaos at home while scrolling through updates between chores and toddler meltdowns.
Let’s dive into what this moment means to Desmond Tan—and why it might just resonate with your parenting heart too.
A Lunar New Year Surprise
Desmond first found out about the pregnancy during Lunar New Year. The timing, he says, felt poetic.
View this post on Instagram
“I got to know about this good news around February,” he shared in an interview with theAsianparent. “It came as quite a surprise. Such a nice feeling to know we’re expecting number two. I couldn’t wait to share the good news.”
You can almost picture it—family dinners, mandarin oranges, firecracker chatter. And then, quietly, a life-changing truth whispered between two people.
But instead of rushing to tell the world, he waited. For two long months. Until the first trimester passed. Until all the tests confirmed that everything looked good. Until they could finally let the joy fully bloom.
It wasn’t easy for someone like Desmond, who admits that he wears his excitement on his sleeve. “It’s hard for me to keep good news away from the people I love,” he said.
And that includes you, dear fans.
Doing It Differently This Time
When it came time to share the news, Desmond and his wife didn’t want to make a split announcement. They didn’t want a pregnancy reveal first and a gender reveal later. They wanted it all in one tender, joyful moment.
His wife had the idea. “Why not let our daughter reveal the gender too?” she suggested. It turned out to be the perfect plan.
Desmond called it amazing. Having their daughter be part of the moment gave it a new dimension. It wasn’t just about two parents welcoming a second child. It was about a family expanding with intention, inclusion, and a little magic.
And people felt it.
“I think on days like these, when there’s so much bad news—whether it’s turning on the TV, watching the news, or flipping through the newspaper—there’s just so much negativity. It can really stress people out.”
Amid rising negativity and daily stressors, Desmond believes this video brought a ripple of joy to others too.
“We’re so happy that this video has brought so much positive energy to the public—to our fans, to people who support us, and especially to parents-to-be and those who have gone through the same journey.”
What Parenthood Feels Like to Desmond Tan
You might assume a man who has played everything from tortured lovers to national heroes on screen would breeze through real-life parenting. Not quite.
Source: Mediacorp
Before his daughter arrived, Desmond admits he was full of doubt. “I was honestly clueless. There was definitely some fear and doubt about whether I could actually be a good father,” he said. “I didn’t know how I was going to handle everything—the good days and the bad days. Especially the bad nights… you know, when they just refuse to sleep.”
If you’re a parent reading this, that probably sounds familiar. The fear, the anxiety, the whispered thought of “Am I doing this right?”
But then she was born. And slowly, instinct took over.
“I realised that, after about a year in, we all have this instinct in us—an instinct that helps us survive and rise to the occasion when we need to,” he shared. “I’ve always seen parenthood as an ever-evolving journey. It’s constantly changing, and I think that’s the beauty of being a parent.”
A New Adventure With a Baby Boy
Desmond is bracing himself for a new kind of parenting adventure this time around. “Boys are just different,” he laughed. “They’re full of energy. Unpredictable. I was talking to a friend who just brought his son back from London, and I told him, this is probably my trailer of what’s to come.”
But even with the chaos ahead, Desmond is embracing it all. The messy. The magical. The unknown.
View this post on InstagramHis children, he says, are like two different sunrises. “One day in Maldives, I woke up to this beautiful turquoise blue sky,” he recalled. “And the next day, the view was still stunning, but not quite the same. Both were beautiful in their own ways.”
That’s how he wants to treat his kids. As unique. As individuals. As bright new mornings with their own rhythm and glow.
View this post on Instagram Letting Go of ExpectationsIf there’s one parenting lesson Desmond has taken to heart, it’s this—don’t overthink. Don’t over-plan. Don’t expect the picture-perfect moments you see in movies.
His daughter taught him that. And now, he’s choosing to flow with life, even as it doubles in diapers, strollers, and giggles.
Source: Instagram/thedesmondtan
“I try not to use my firstborn as a benchmark,” he said. “They both deserve their own journey.”
That applies to bonding too. He remembers the surreal moment of seeing his daughter for the first time. “She looked like an alien,” he joked. “Not at all like in the Hollywood movies.”
But the bond came. Not instantly. But a few hours later, in bed with his wife. Quiet. Intimate. Real.
And with his son, he’s open to that unfolding again. However and whenever it happens.
Amid the Noise, A Family Blooms
Maybe you’re not expecting baby number two. Maybe you’re still navigating baby number one. Or maybe you’re somewhere in between, wondering how much chaos a toddler and a newborn can really cause.
Well, spoiler alert. There will be a lot.
But Desmond Tan’s story is a reminder. A reminder to pause. To breathe. To celebrate the ordinary milestones that feel extraordinary when you’re raising tiny humans.
There is no manual. No perfect reveal. No guaranteed bond. But there is learning. There is laughter. There is love that grows even when you’re sleep-deprived and overwhelmed.
And sometimes, there’s a blue bouquet handed to you by your toddler—reminding you that family is built one surprise at a time.
Source: Instagram/thedesmondtan
So if today’s headlines feel a little too much, let this story sit with you. Let it remind you that joy still exists. That wonder can come in small fists and sleepy cries. That the journey you’re on, no matter how tiring, is full of worth.
Whether you’re already a parent or thinking about it, take a moment to honour your own sunrise. Your own chaos. Your own kind of magic.
Because like Desmond Tan, you’re probably doing better than you think. And your story is worth sharing too.