This post has more questions than answers. More struggles than successes. It lists some challenges we face in the past 3 years parenting a Primary School kid. But it is not exhaustive. While every child and every family is different, we welcome your views and experiences. Years are short… “She’s Primary 4 now? It seemed like yesterday that you shared about prepping her for Primary 1!” A friend recently exclaimed. We too, were caught by surprise how quickly time has flown by. Days … [Read more...]
Parenting and Perdition – A Husband’s Perspective
About the post: This post is written as part of a blog train celebrating parenthood. It is part of a blog train started by Deborah of Owl's Well on how “Mothers make it work”. She has invited a handful of Daddies to share their views on how Daddies help Mummies make it work. Here’s my story: Unlike Robert's Frost’s famous poem, ‘The road not taken’, we didn’t choose the road less travelled. It was thrust upon us. But like his poem, yes, it had made all the difference. Our journey to … [Read more...]
Offering Help and Support When A Child Dies…
Dedicated to our friends who came and helped. You know who you were. “No parent should have to bury a child ... No mother should have to bury a son. Mothers are not meant to bury sons. It is not in the natural order of things…” - Stephen Adly Guirgis, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot ‘Need your help…David’ The text came quite abruptly in the night. My colleague had just received news that a close friend's baby had died, and she was feeling clueless how to render support. Like … [Read more...]
From a Father to a Daddy
This is a lengthy post for the simple reason that this post contains gems of experiences which I gathered from a sharing by a large group of Dads. It is my hope that the points shared here would be as precious to you as they are to me in the journey of Fatherhood. Dedicated to all my Daddy friends who inspire me. You know who you are. “Any man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad”. Before I became a father, I thought this quote was cliché…until I became one. Now, I … [Read more...]
Confessions of a ‘Stay-home Dad’
“Daddy…look! Mushrooms!’ My daughter exclaimed as she caught sight of multiple little fungi which mushroomed next to an old tree root along the foot path. We stopped and observed them for awhile before moving on. I was in no hurry, really. “Today is Daddy’s last day walking you home this year ok?” I asked, with a slight hint of reluctance. “Emmm….ok.” was her reply. Her Primary 2 self not fully comprehending the fact that it has been a luxury for her Daddy to be walking her to and back from … [Read more...]
Snow on the Onsen – 7 Lessons for 2017
We have a flight to catch in a few hours and the bags are not packed yet but I must still make that one last dip. Even if it’s just a quick one. Ever had one of those experiences, which resonate with you on such a personal level that, despite calculated odds, you yearn to fulfill it? For me, it was that one more dip in the open-air bath of Ki Niseko Hotel from our recent trip to Hokkaido, Japan. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no stranger to onsens but there’s just something about this open-air … [Read more...]
Demons and Derailers to Quality Relationships
Since Halloween just past, here are some rather shocking numbers: (Source: The 2016 Prudential Relationship Index) Singapore ranks 7th out of 10 Asian countries for relationship satisfaction, with money, children and housework causing the most arguments among couples. In any given week, 24 per cent of married people in Singapore think seriously about leaving their spouse (i.e. divorce). The 'Digital Divide' is definitely disrupting Singaporean's lives, with partners … [Read more...]
When A Child Takes His Life – One Parent’s Reminder to his Future Self
(This article is written as my reflection on the challenges I faced as a parent whose kids are entering school and with it, experiencing the joys and struggles of the demanding education system. This article is not meant to judge anyone. In fact, it’s written to heighten the awareness of the tightrope every parent walks in balancing the desire to see their children achieve their potential while redefining the meaning of success in this stressful world we live … [Read more...]
OCBC Cycle 2016 – Dad’s The Way…To Connect
This post is dedicated to all my Daddy friends, near or far, in real or virtual space… who had in one way or another supported me through my fatherhood journey. Particularly to Winston, Nick and Andy, who stopped, waited and kept a look-out for me during Sunday’s OCBC Cycle event. You need not have to, but you all did, willingly, cheerfully. Thank you. Here’s to our next ride. Photo Credit: OCBC Cycle FB “Are you ok?” “I’m just enjoying the view. As the Daddy and de-facto driver in the … [Read more...]
Making a Will – Responsible Parenting Till The Very End
“Death ends a life, not a relationship.” ― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie Hard Truths Truth: We are all dying…some earlier than others. I've been thinking about this for sometime now, ever since I turned 40 a couple of years back. Last year, the thought intensified when I turned 44 – the same age where my own father passed away but still, we procrastinated. Then, there were the high-profile tragic accidents in the news: the double tragedy involving two regional airlines and … [Read more...]
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