Parenting

My father bought 2 clothes for me from his trip to China and had hoped to see me wear them for Chinese New Year. I didn't want to wear them at all because I don't agree with the Chinese sense of fashion. I plan to ignore them for a while then quietly give them away to the recycling company. I know my dad's intentions are good and I didn't want to show that I don't like the clothes openly. I don't want to make my dad disappointed. I think my father is fantastic and I wouldn't want to change him for any other father, not even if it's the Sultan of Brunei. He's always been supportive of me and has been there when I need him, such as the time when I needed parental consent for a last minute wisdom tooth extraction. He came down straight from his workplace after I called him and accompanied me for the operation.

I will be a father to someone someday and I find it to be a daunting task. I am not sure whether I can live up to my own father's standards, whether I can give my children a childhood as good as mine, whether they will turn out fine. Parenting is about sacrifice, doing things not for yourself but for your children. And it's not just for a day or a week, but for as long as you become a parent to your children. My parents have done it for me and my sister and soon it'll be our turn to do that for our own children. If we can get anywhere near wht our parents have done, then I think we'll have succeeded.

There's some Chinese sayings about parenting that I can still remember. 上梁不正， 下梁歪。子不教， 父之过。 慈母多败儿 Basically, they all mean that the way a child turns out is dependent on the parent, and discipline is important. I think I will be quite a strict father and I will never allow my children to be spoilt. It's only for their own good.