Some dads are authoritarians, some are approachable ones with hugs and kisses for their kids all the time and some are totally messed-up, confused about their roles as fathers.
My dad is just an average, Chinese father who has preserved certain traditional thinking. e.g. Most Chinese dads treat the eldest child with strict and grim rules. Definitely no expressing of paternal love or whatsoever loving emotion. I’m lucky that I’m the youngest, ha!
Having only two daughters, Dad used to encouraged us to join the army. Yes, you heard me right. I guess, he wanted us to be more ‘manly’ because we’re girls. Of course, we did not join the army, despite his suggestions. We implored him with girlish pleads and he didn’t pursue his dreams of us becoming stout soldiers. Phew!
He used to practically ignore every boy who came looking for us at home when we were teenage girls. Once, he told off my friend (who’s a guy) on the phone by telling him that it was the Prime Minister’s house and told him not to call again. Yes, we’ve gone through that stage where I was the angry, rebellious daughter and he was the protective father of a teenage girl. My sister was more domestic, I would say and hardly gave my parents reasons to worry. I, on the other hand, was a defiant and rather, wild.
As the years grew, Dad became more mellowed with age. Instead of the constant frowns of disapproval of the way we dressed, who we met or where we went, he expresses more paternal love and concern.
Dad, I know I’ve given you endless headaches and heartaches all those years but I just wanna let you know that I always knew you wanted the best for me and sis. You are a humble and skilled farmer, who toiled diligently under the scorching sun. We may not have everything we wanted like other children whose fathers could afford expensive toys or holidays, but you have given us the best present daughters could ever need, your support and encouragement whenever we needed them. Although you did not show them so obviously, but I understand the strange ways in how you express your love to us.
The HONOUR of having a SUPERB AND UNIQUE FATHER like you, makes my heart fill with nothing, but PRIDE.
To my dad, who has taught me integrity in life and loved me for the trouble causing and rebellious daughter that I was in my wild days.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
