Through My Father's Eyes
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
"Lesson No. 3 : My sons and daughters. Those are exactly how your mom and I feel. Be kind to your mom and dad in our old age. Be nice to us. Speak to us. Touch us. Gladden us with your manners. Make us smile. Wipe away our tears. Wipe away our sweat. Kiss us often. Now you can demand your paradise. "
(Count Byron, 2006)
I've enjoyed tremendously reading Count's blog. It's like seeing the world through a father's eyes. Listening to his concerns and thoughts as how you imagine your own father would.
Baba in his younger days were known as THE Pak Long - the discplinarian. Any misbehaviours not only done by us - also the cousins would be halted with "Epp!! Nanti Pak Long marah!" or a warning gestures - a stare and a forefinger wave; and we would be as meek as mouses. not even a squeek would be made by us. We were terrified. Well i was!!
Bickering, picking on each other nerves were common between us; Big bro, kakak and me (this is way before Adik was born.. she's lucky mind you.. hehe). But none of these were displayed in front of Baba. NO NO. Crying were done discreetly. No throwing tantrums. How the three of us managed to fight without making a sound is also a wonder. hrmph... Baba made sure his presence was felt, seen and heard. Somehow even when he's not around, we could felt like he's watching our every move. It didn't help having a domestic helper who ALWAYS gave a full report to the parents for misbehaving. Alamak.. siap la tali pinggang or hanger. Extend the hands and PrAPPp! (But the hands remain smooth until now. hehe)
Yes, Baba was very stern and fierce (he was also a discipline master in his school). But that's his way of showing his love and concerns. As a kid, we didn't realize it back then. We would mengadu to Mak. "Mak, nape Baba garang? Nape Baba bukan mcm Pak *** or Pak ***" imagine if our kids say that to you.. x ke sedih... Watching our cousins running around, climbing here and there, we would think twice before "enjoying" ourselves like any other kids. When visiting relatives, Kakak and me MUST help setting the tables for lunch/dinner. Sama2 sibuk. Kadang2 ngelat dok dlm bilik bual2 with cousins.. siap la nanti dgr dr bawah "Anaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Being a kid, curiousity gets the better of us; full of imagination and energy. We didn't need full sets of legos, or many barbies. We didn't have the latest, coolest toys in the market. Even if we do, we have to SHARE. there's no - this is ur toys, this is mine. But we've improvised many playing activities - double decker bed turns into an imaginary ship - big bro would be the buaya or jaws by crawling on his belly; lazy chair turns into a fortress (mase kecik2 kalau main tembak2, sape yg "mati" mesti lidah terjelir kn? nape ek?); bookshelves turns into an apartment for our smurfs, strawberry shortcakes, care bears and forrest family figurines - complete w an elevator we made with empty tissuebox and string; dinner table turns into a ping pong table;a game of rounders consisting a piece of wood and a tennis ball (selalu last for couple of days before Big Bro whacked the ball straight into the jungle in front of the house.. spoil mood!) and our all time favourites - sliding down the grassy hill using linoleum (those pvc carpetting). Hah! Snowboarding? we'll give it a pass anytime! When i was seven, Mak enrolled us into a teakwando class and there we were, the 3 of us practised teakwando in our frontyard along with our neighbour - the father and 2 kids of our age; and Baba would be the one who accompanied us during our grading sessions. Baba would bought us breakfast for us to bring to school every sunday. And he would sent and fetch us frm school on sundays. There was once, when i was in primary 2, i forgot it was Sunday, so i took the usual bus home. Little did i know, my dad was searching frantically for me in the school - kecik2 dah pelupa. I got a good scolding aftr that for making him worried. Did i mention that Baba also sgt pantang if we bought junk foods, iced drinks or ice creams? and i mean SANGAT pantang. if he found out we bought any of those, we'll get an earful from him. Hygiene wasn't the main consideration for school canteen during those days anyway. :)
Baba did make sure we had our fair share of happy childhood - sharing and playing together. And at the same time acknowledge our responsibility and aware of the limits eventhough we're still kids. Baba did what he did because he wanted us to be able to stand on our two feet and be brave. Never give up easily. Be considerate to others. And to have respects for the elderly. Mak is our emotional support system. While Baba would provide all the means and materials for us to succeed.
Now Baba is 'mellow'er. He voiced out his concern in different way. I could say i've grown closer to Baba.. the Baba i was once so terrified of.. hehe. It also helps to hv something in common w him (eg - a bf frm his birth country.. hehe) . Now, we could see more of his 'relax' side. The side that we didnt know existed when we're small. My dad is a joker afterall!! Tapi bila da rapat, sometimes i forgot to show my gratitudes and affections towards him. When we asked for a something from our parents; they would do their best to fulfill our needs and even wants! But how many of us children would do the same, instantly; when they asked us to perform certain task - the simplest it is. "OK.. in a minute".. "Ok, jap lagi"... and why reserved the good manners only for relatives; or org yg baru kita kenal; or even dgn buah hati je - our parents should be our priority. Being a parent doesnt mean hati diorg kebal dgn kerenah kita. Mereka pn manusia biasa. Kalau bleh buat baik dgn org lain, kenapa tidak dgn ibu bapa sendiri.
They have sacrificed their whole lives for us. They have been working very hard to give us the comfort we're in. When my parents were my age, they have started to support their parents in addition to their own family. Monetary; i don't have much to contribute yet, but there are many other ways i could and i know i should. But none of it could amount to what they've given me. Priceless. What good deeds have I done for my parents today? A question i should ask myself at the end of each day.
From the bottom of my heart, thank u Baba. Thank u so much.
p/s: coming soon, ode to my mom ;)
I've enjoyed tremendously reading Count's blog. It's like seeing the world through a father's eyes. Listening to his concerns and thoughts as how you imagine your own father would.
Baba in his younger days were known as THE Pak Long - the discplinarian. Any misbehaviours not only done by us - also the cousins would be halted with "Epp!! Nanti Pak Long marah!" or a warning gestures - a stare and a forefinger wave; and we would be as meek as mouses. not even a squeek would be made by us. We were terrified. Well i was!!
Bickering, picking on each other nerves were common between us; Big bro, kakak and me (this is way before Adik was born.. she's lucky mind you.. hehe). But none of these were displayed in front of Baba. NO NO. Crying were done discreetly. No throwing tantrums. How the three of us managed to fight without making a sound is also a wonder. hrmph... Baba made sure his presence was felt, seen and heard. Somehow even when he's not around, we could felt like he's watching our every move. It didn't help having a domestic helper who ALWAYS gave a full report to the parents for misbehaving. Alamak.. siap la tali pinggang or hanger. Extend the hands and PrAPPp! (But the hands remain smooth until now. hehe)
Yes, Baba was very stern and fierce (he was also a discipline master in his school). But that's his way of showing his love and concerns. As a kid, we didn't realize it back then. We would mengadu to Mak. "Mak, nape Baba garang? Nape Baba bukan mcm Pak *** or Pak ***" imagine if our kids say that to you.. x ke sedih... Watching our cousins running around, climbing here and there, we would think twice before "enjoying" ourselves like any other kids. When visiting relatives, Kakak and me MUST help setting the tables for lunch/dinner. Sama2 sibuk. Kadang2 ngelat dok dlm bilik bual2 with cousins.. siap la nanti dgr dr bawah "Anaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
Being a kid, curiousity gets the better of us; full of imagination and energy. We didn't need full sets of legos, or many barbies. We didn't have the latest, coolest toys in the market. Even if we do, we have to SHARE. there's no - this is ur toys, this is mine. But we've improvised many playing activities - double decker bed turns into an imaginary ship - big bro would be the buaya or jaws by crawling on his belly; lazy chair turns into a fortress (mase kecik2 kalau main tembak2, sape yg "mati" mesti lidah terjelir kn? nape ek?); bookshelves turns into an apartment for our smurfs, strawberry shortcakes, care bears and forrest family figurines - complete w an elevator we made with empty tissuebox and string; dinner table turns into a ping pong table;a game of rounders consisting a piece of wood and a tennis ball (selalu last for couple of days before Big Bro whacked the ball straight into the jungle in front of the house.. spoil mood!) and our all time favourites - sliding down the grassy hill using linoleum (those pvc carpetting). Hah! Snowboarding? we'll give it a pass anytime! When i was seven, Mak enrolled us into a teakwando class and there we were, the 3 of us practised teakwando in our frontyard along with our neighbour - the father and 2 kids of our age; and Baba would be the one who accompanied us during our grading sessions. Baba would bought us breakfast for us to bring to school every sunday. And he would sent and fetch us frm school on sundays. There was once, when i was in primary 2, i forgot it was Sunday, so i took the usual bus home. Little did i know, my dad was searching frantically for me in the school - kecik2 dah pelupa. I got a good scolding aftr that for making him worried. Did i mention that Baba also sgt pantang if we bought junk foods, iced drinks or ice creams? and i mean SANGAT pantang. if he found out we bought any of those, we'll get an earful from him. Hygiene wasn't the main consideration for school canteen during those days anyway. :)
Baba did make sure we had our fair share of happy childhood - sharing and playing together. And at the same time acknowledge our responsibility and aware of the limits eventhough we're still kids. Baba did what he did because he wanted us to be able to stand on our two feet and be brave. Never give up easily. Be considerate to others. And to have respects for the elderly. Mak is our emotional support system. While Baba would provide all the means and materials for us to succeed.
Now Baba is 'mellow'er. He voiced out his concern in different way. I could say i've grown closer to Baba.. the Baba i was once so terrified of.. hehe. It also helps to hv something in common w him (eg - a bf frm his birth country.. hehe) . Now, we could see more of his 'relax' side. The side that we didnt know existed when we're small. My dad is a joker afterall!! Tapi bila da rapat, sometimes i forgot to show my gratitudes and affections towards him. When we asked for a something from our parents; they would do their best to fulfill our needs and even wants! But how many of us children would do the same, instantly; when they asked us to perform certain task - the simplest it is. "OK.. in a minute".. "Ok, jap lagi"... and why reserved the good manners only for relatives; or org yg baru kita kenal; or even dgn buah hati je - our parents should be our priority. Being a parent doesnt mean hati diorg kebal dgn kerenah kita. Mereka pn manusia biasa. Kalau bleh buat baik dgn org lain, kenapa tidak dgn ibu bapa sendiri.
They have sacrificed their whole lives for us. They have been working very hard to give us the comfort we're in. When my parents were my age, they have started to support their parents in addition to their own family. Monetary; i don't have much to contribute yet, but there are many other ways i could and i know i should. But none of it could amount to what they've given me. Priceless. What good deeds have I done for my parents today? A question i should ask myself at the end of each day.
From the bottom of my heart, thank u Baba. Thank u so much.
p/s: coming soon, ode to my mom ;)
Cik Ana at 12:14 pm
1 Comments:
ana, good for u to realise what should a child do towards her/his parents, nak jadi anak solehah bukannya senang, tapi itu la cabarannya.
the thing is, selagi diaorang masih hidup ni, buat la apa yg perlu, hormati lah mereka, tunjukkan la kasih sayang kita, sebab bila diaorang dah takde, semua tu dah tak guna...
err...btw, akak jarang tercross over baba buat lawak, bila ek??
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