It was bound to happen I suppose. Just when I thought everything was cool and we have the best kid in the world, he goes and breaks the family rule on handphones. Despite having signed a contract for it too. And in so doing, break a trust. Talk about a reality check! For wilful defiance … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #13 — Of handphones and trust
Hey, welcome back to my occasional guest post series! Now some of you might remember my good friend and fellow dad Stephen from a moving post he contributed to my blog last December. Today I'm pleased to have him back! This time though, the topic is extremely controversial. So if you're not in the frame … Continue reading Guest post – A fellow dad’s appeal to protect SG
I remember as a kid, when school enrolment or administration moments come around, we would have to fill up among other things details of a next-of-kin in case of emergencies. For that, I would typically put down my father's name. This went on for pretty much all of my academic life as I progressed from … Continue reading Are fathers more “next-of-kin”, “next-of-skin” or “‘neath-the-skin”?
[An edited version of this post first appeared here] "No Lord! Not again! This can't be happening..." These words blazed across my brain like a lightning bolt out of the blue. Last Friday, the bodies of twin boys were recovered in a canal not far from a park and playground. (At the time of this … Continue reading A plea for caregiving fathers of special needs kids
Hey Sons! Happy New Year! Hopefully 2022 is going to be the year we see Covid become an endemic disease everywhere. More like the common cold rather than the never-ending pandemic it is now. But more importantly, this will be one major milestone year for you both. Not only are you approaching "teen-dom" , you're … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #8 — New school, new beginnings
Hey J Congrats on completing your Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) this year! You're all set to start the new year of 2022 in the next phase of your educational journey in a secondary school of your choice. As your parents, we’re as over the moon as you are, but not for the usual reasons … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #6 — Choose LIFE, not PSLE!
Below's a love letter from a devoted father to his son. It is the second guest post on my blog (do click here for the first). This is a deeply personal piece from someone I got to know while touring Israel at the end of 2018. I feel deeply humbled and honored he's allowed me … Continue reading A letter to Seamus — “Son, daddy will be ok.”
Hey J my precious son, Since my first post about it, I'm getting both excited and nervous as I start planning our December staycay. Truth is, I've never in a million years thought I would be undertaking such an ambitious project -- to take us away for a father-son bonding retreat. Just us two. To … Continue reading Father-son bonding #2 — Rites of Passage
Son, congratulations on owning your first cell phone! You’ve proven yourself mature and responsible enough for us to entrust you with this modern-day device. Given that you have a new cell phone in your hands now, courtesy of your mom and me, we obviously trust you to make good decisions. So why are we making … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #5 — Our first family cell phone agreement
I Just Need A Moment (Violin Musing II) So this is how it feelsWhen a dream dies.A dream I never knewWas all mine.Had I knownI would have given it back.Returned it like a dog-eared library bookOr an old shoe to its rack. But we strolled into this dream togetherDidn't we?We didn't force feed or threaten … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #53
