So Father’s Day happened over the weekend on Sunday, and judging by the number of tributes on social media (Mama Toh’s included), I came to some conclusions.
1. A mind boggling number of my friends are now parents. Where did my youth go?
2. We don’t recognise the achievements of Dads adequately enough.
3. We spend too much time on social media. (Looks at Mama Toh).
Anyhow, as much as I enjoyed Summer’s little trophy for me, which she must have been slightly coerced into making as part of her school art craft, I realized that Father’s Day as a son and Father’s Day as a Dad myself are startlingly different.
Me with my aluminium foil wrapped gem of a trophy
Well, most importantly, being a father myself has shown me that Father’s Day festivities are overhyped. As much as I enjoyed receiving my hard-earned trophy and being woken up at 5.50 a.m. on a Sunday morning to the sounds of ‘Happy Father’s Day, Papa!’ (ok didn’t enjoy the second one that much), there are many things that my kids do on a daily basis which proves that everyday can be Father’s Day, as sickeningly cliché that might sound. Such as:
1. Zavier staggering on his unsteady steps to give me a hug at the door everyday when I come home from work.
The little hugger
2. Summer telling me she loves me at least 3 times a day. More often whenever she wants something from me.
Such as chocolates
3. Both my kids bugging me to play with them (one with her Little Pony toys, another with his Nerf guns) every night while Mama Toh takes her time to shower. I tend to complain that I am overwhelmed during that good 25 minutes or so, but secretly I am enjoying the attention from my kids.
Don't mess with them yo
Thinking back, it made me do a short reflection of whether I have done enough for my own Dad in terms of appreciating what he has done.
Sure, I treat him to dinner every once in a while, but have I been giving him the required concern and attention whilst I was physically with him (which is actually almost everyday). Well, in that aspect I really could have done better.
Our parents get older by the day, and it might not be the material presents that you shower on them that matter most.
Happy Father's Day to my dearest Daddy