The Importance of Family

The family bond, one of the greatest miracles that God had given us. Yet all too often, we tend to take that for granted...until it becomes too late. 

Growing up as an only child, it didn't take much for me to realize what was missing when I looked around and observed the lives of people around me. Coupled by the fact that my family (Parents vs Uncles and Aunts) had a falling out early in my life, I virtually grew up a lonely child. Always seeking the attention of people I regarded as family yet very rarely receiving the kind of affirmations that I needed. My parents were extremely busy entrepreneurs for as long as I could remember and very rarely had the time of day to read my a bedtime story, much less cuddle and comfort the child that I was. I remembered a time when all I wanted was their attention and would do everything I could to try and get this, ultimately falling sick and landing up in the hospital with suspected meningitis. Yet they never came home, and left me in the care of a family friend while they continued with their travels. Gosh, those were certainly experiences I wished I never had; but like everything else, it worked out in the end and was probably instrumental in why I have my 4 beautiful kids today.

These days, however, it would seem that those tables are turned. Both my wife and I are traveling and bogged down by work so much that we have been involuntarily guilty of neglecting our kids. Guess who comes to rescue? My parents. The once upon a time, too busy to think of you kinda parents have now taken on the role of being super grand parents, ferrying my kids to their sports training, school activities, and even tuition classes! In tiny Singapore, you would be amazed at the mileage you start to chock up just fetching the kids on a daily basis. I wished they gave out Krisflyer miles for such trips for then I'll be in the Solitaire club for sure! Jokes aside, I am extremely thankful for the support that my parents have given us and the effort they put in just trying to "make up" for what I never had. I am truly amazed at how close we've become because of my kids. The common goal that every parent and grandparent will have is giving what they believe is best to their child / grandchild. I cannot emphasize enough how truly blessed we are just having such a fantastic support system in place...and when I look at the way my mother stares at my son, it reminisces what I had and still have today. It is a beautiful sight. 

My children will perhaps never know how much they have contributed to strengthening our family and keeping it as a single unit. I can only hope that one day, they would realize how beautiful it is to have children of their own, and to give my wife and I the opportunity to become the same supportive grandparents that we now aspire to be.

Younger people these days often consider family a burden over themselves and try to get away from them. I see many of our friends opting to remain single or married ones that decided against having children. What they fail to see, is aside from the added chores and financial commitments, a family ultimately gives you direction, and purpose in life. It makes you the "Superhero" that you have always wanted to be. Hearing kids say that when they grow up, they want to be exactly like daddy may seem a little cliche, but when they are YOUR KIDS, it would never fail to water your eyes each and every time. A little hug, the pecks on your cheek, the way they hold on to your pinkie, makes it all worthwhile. I would never exchange this for anything in this world.

Many of us have had bad patches with our parents over the years, that is normal after spending our entire lives with them. This does not change the fact that they are still the closest people to us. When you are disillusioned by the outside world, your family is always there to fall back on. You family always accepts you with all your mistakes and weaknesses and still loves you. No one in the world would do that. There is never a substitute for the love of a mother or father and I've been fortunate enough to still have all 4 parents / parents-in-law around. My goal is to continue keeping them safe and sound for as long as God permits.