Fathers

Being dads these days is very different from our own father's or grandfather's times.

As a generalisation, the previous eras produce fathers who have many children but whose main role is to bring the bacon home to waiting mouths. And bring the bacon home they did since they are the sole breadwinner. These fathers are not very involved in the family. Post war sees a shift in this trend with a breed of fathers who show more struggle in the sudden galloping economy plus more demanding needs of the family. Mothers started to join the workforce. Family dynamics changed.

Man of today embraces even many roles. Although woman now share the burden of the finance, the social pressure is still on the man to prove their worth. Woman who are now on the go are also demanding their man to take on more domestic responsibility. Family unit is smaller with one or two children but we want better of everything...

On top of all these, today's dads are also very enthusiatic to play an active role in their child's life by being a caregiver and a nurturer. All in all, they want to be involved! And involve they did. A look around young fathers around me, it is not hard to discover that these guys are very well versed in the process of pregnancy, child birth, child rearing and home making!!! Having quite a few male friends with v young kids or infants gives me good insight to their psyche. I have to say theirs is not an easy role to manage.

Sometimes, I listen to them talk of doing more in their career, giving their family a better life and their guilt of not spending enough time with their wives and kids... These already make me want to give them a pat on their backs to encourage them forward.... Unlike woman who generally has a precedent to follow, these new dads appear to have to depend on themselves to figure out the best way to contribute to meet the needs and expectations of all he loves in this new generation. Man, unlike woman, also has less excuses nor do they want to make excuses for anything not done well...

Kudos to fathers of today and all the fathers to be... Today's daddy role is tough tough tough... don't be too stressed by trying to do too much, just trying your best is good enough. No one is born to know the role of a father so all fathers learn more of this role from living it from day to day...

I say cheers to fathers... Keep doing what you are doing.