The Essence of Motherhood
This is part of the essence of motherhood,
watching your kid grow into her own person and not
being able to do anything about it. Otherwise children would be nothing more than pets.
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- Heather Armstrong, Dooce, 11-15-05
My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.
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- Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Being a parent is an exciting experience.
But not entirely, though. There are many moments of anxiety and many days
of worry and stress over our children. One thing is for sure, they grow up very fast and soon I realised my wife and I are “alone”!
From birth to a toddler to an infant and as a kid, we had wished they could grow up fast enough to be less of a bother and trouble.
I cannot deny though we had many days of fun, laughter and enjoyment of our times together as a family. My children were lovable,
cuddly and very affable. Really, they were well behaved and we seldom had to scold them or discipline them.
My wife had been a full-time mother to
my children till they both finished their ‘A’ Levels and went on to university. Her care and love for my sons were her priorities
for the home while I took on the frontiers to fend off ‘poverty’ so we could survive each day.
I was the sole breadwinner and you can imagine
the difficult times I had to sustain the family expenses and my business expenses.
I survived three financial crises and several economic downturns. But there were happy moments with
the family over meal times and during weekends.
However, I have never
felt sad or upset over the fact that I was the only sole breadwinner then. It was a huge sacrifice but
on hindsight, it was worth it all.
My sons have
completed their university studies and are on to getting gainful employment, and hopefully getting married soon to
give me grandchildren to play with! They are doing well in life and in their relationships with their girlfriends
and friends. Seeing them doing well certainly bring joy and a sense of satisfaction to my wife and I.
My wife played an essential role as mother to my sons,
without her, I can’t imagine what would have happened to my sons today.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Joseph Hong
Managing Editor
+65 8333 7118
