MY DADDY DEAREST

Growl or glare, or both. For my father, these two verbs were key to being a parent. Then there was the occasional rap on the knuckles, the most lethal weapon in my father’s armoury and the most effective. It always worked in controlling two brats – my brother and I – who, for the best part of their collective childhoods, tested his patience and questioned their mother’s constant threat, ‘Just wait until I tell your father...’

As we crossed our teenage years, the dynamics changed. The ever-so-angry old man mellowed down. The growl turned into a grunt and instead of saying no most of the time, he allowed us to test our wings. Proud of our smallest achievements, he became our biggest supporter and guiding force, the wind beneath our wings.

Now, when my brother and I have found our paths to our goals in life, but look up to

As my brother and I GREW UP, our father MELLOWED down. So, now when I try to UNDERSTAND what kind of a FATHER he is and what’s his PARENTING style, I realise he doesn’t FIT INTO any stereotypes

the old man for approval once in a while, we feel we are a sum of his love for us, which still shines in his wrinkled old eyes. Making him proud is the secret to our happiness.

So, when I began to dissect my father’s parenting style after reading the feature, ‘What type of dad are you?’ on page 36, I realised he does not really fit into any one stereotype. He has been and still is all of them.

My brother and I turned out fine, so I guess whatever his style of parenting might be, it worked.

Let me know what you think. Until next week,