Cool blog by Nick, a new dad of twin boys, David and Cephas. I have one boy and already pengsan (for our Ang Moh readers, literally "faint") already. He is managing two boys, solid. I have a soft spot for reading about other parents' experiences raising children. The world could use more people who care about being good fathers and mothers.
Also, he called me super-hero because of something I wrote, which is flattering (I have always fancied myself as Prof Xavier, but with hair). Hey, Nick, you wrong already. The real super-hero is my wife, I'm just the incompetent sidekick who must always be rescued, and who drives the car.
Excerpt 1:
I came across a real-life super-hero today. He appeared when I read a column in the TODAY newspaper today; it was a column by Mr Brown, who also runs his own "accidental web-site" called mrbrown.com
The column, called "Pencil Marks" talks about his daughter, Faith, who is autistic. Unlike other parents (like me) who pore over books on babies and coo and worry over developmental milestones, he and his wife have had to look at different milestones. And the joy that they have at each milestone that Faith crosses is palpable.
Mr Brown, also known as Kin Mun, is my super-hero, because he handles his unique challenges with lots of courage and extra doses of humour.
Is it just me or does parenthood sometimes make a grown man want to cry?
No, I'm not talking about the frustrations of bringing up children. I'm referring to TV programmes that focus on children. Example: I was watching this excellent programme on CNA yesterday called Baby Talk and hosted by Tan Kheng Hua. The episode focused on learning disabilities in children, in particular dyslexia and autism. Let me say that the programme gave out a lot of useful information, especially about the importance of early detection and intervention so as to promote the affected child's self-esteem. But the kicker was a short feature on RDA - the Riding for the Disabled Association. This was the one that made me teary. Seeing the kids with disabilities having so much fun and the parents just beaming at the confidence it gave to their kids, well, I just couldn't help myself.
It made me realise that to a parent, his/her child is every perfect thing. So what if they are a little less-abled than other kids? They are perfect creations of God who want nothing more than to be loved for who they are, not what they can or cannot do.
A friend once said that I may be all macho crap on the outside, but inside I'm as soft as tofu. Another friend said that it's precisely because I'm such a softie that I am so in love with my kids.
Ok, so I'm a real softie...
Who they look like is a subject for debate all the time among family and friends. Many suggest David looks like my wife, while Cephas looks like me. Then there are some who think both boys look like me. Other comments about the boys are that David is "smiley" while Cephas is "broody".
Truth is, they both look like my wife and me, in different areas and in different light. I think it's quite hard to say who they look like more, since they are still babies and have lots more growing to do. Opinion may be divided now, but what it is united on is the fact that both boys don't look like each other. Some say they don't look like twins.
