Best way for a dad to love his kids? Love their mum

http://www.divaasia.com/article/6221

Mon, Nov 23, 2009

The Straits Times

Best way for a dad to love his kids? Love their mum

It is time the community had meaningful family organisations such as Fathers Action Network (FAN), whose chairman, Mr Richard Seow, its members and sponsor, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), make a pre-eminent team leading fathers to fulfil their responsible role as head of the household.

Parenting is tough and requires the courageous to commit their time, lives and money to building and protecting the family unit.

Yet, in many marriages, couples are finding it a challenge to keep the love alive, let alone rekindle the flames of fatherhood.

Without help, many will find their marriage vows hard to keep and fatherhood difficult to live out.

While the ideal image of the family is that of a highly successful father with a capable home-maker wife and wonderful children, the reality is far from the ideal.

Married couples are divorcing at a younger age and infidelity is not uncommon among married men. Children suffer most when their parents choose to go their separate ways.

Hence self-help groups such as FAN must offer practical solutions to build strong family relationships.

In my view, these three traits are important in cementing family ties:

• The best way for a father to love his children is to love their mother.
• A sensible father rejects vices such as gambling, irresponsible drinking and womanising.
• A courageous father ensures that his children learn respect for authority, frugality and industry.

Thank you MCYS for your untiring efforts in building meaningful family relationships in the community.

George Lim

This article was first published in The Straits Times