Pandemic helps UAE dads bond big time with kids
PROXIMITY AND MORE TIME AT HAND HELP FATHERS STRENGTHEN TIES WITH KIDS AMID PANDEMIC
Covid- 19 and its fangs have pretty much held the world in ransom and the UAE has not been exempt from it. But somewhere in the middle of all this, people have looked to find happiness and positivity to keep their faith and sanity going. One of the most positive outcomes of worldwide lockdowns and “work from home” policies has been family bonding and dads in particular are happy with the extra quality time they have been able to spend with their children.
Dads in the UAE said they are grateful for the extra time they have had to get to know their children better and have some quality time together.
British father, Jamie Atherton, 43, who works as a chief executive officer for a performance digital company in Dubai, said he and his four children have been spending quality time together these last months. “I hold a key position and I have sporting aspirations, but my children will always come first ,” said Atherton, a single father who is enjoying every bit of extra time with his children, Myla ( 11), Archie ( 9), Ella ( 6), Arlo ( 4).
Top priority
This creative dad and his children went all out to launch a You Tube channel of their own called “We’re the Trons”. The channel carries videos of him and his children and their quality bonding time during the pandemic.
“I even took up a course on howto edit videos and post them on YouTube channel. Our videos are themed around the concept of howa single dad is coping with his children during Covid. We also started our own Instagram page of just us family. My children mean a lot to me. They are my number one priority,” said the loving dad. Atherton said: “I have always been a hands on dad. But the pandemic has shown me that I can do more. I am nowable to balance my work and family.”
For Scottish father Michael Bacon, 36, it is the same. An Economics professor for a British school in Dubai, Bacon said he has been doing a lot of fun activities with his children. “We have been swimming a lot. We bike together. Am so grateful for this extra quality time with the family,” said Bacon who lives in Dubai with his wife Kate, and daughters Evie ( 6) and Lyla ( 4).
For Indian father Praveen Rawat, something that may seem simple like having lunch with his wife and children, is actually very special to him. “Owing to the city- wide movement restrictions, I am finally eating lunch at home with my family,” said Rawat, 43, who works as a chief financial officer for a multinational company. He said he is working from home( WFH) every alternateweek.
“When I am WFH, I get to see my daughters [ aged 13 ands ix] go to school. Inthe afternoons, I personally go to receive them from the school bus drop off point. My children are so happy to see me receive them rather than the housemaid. Itmakes a big difference to family bonding.”
Family time
Another Indian expat, Pradeep B. Ravikeerthy, said the “side effect” of his WFH, which is five days a week, has meant more family time at home. The 43- year- old, who works as a sales manager at a Dubai firm, said he was given the option to WFH, which he embraced. Ravikeerthy, who is from Bengaluru, has a son aged 13 and a sevenyearold daughter. His mother also liveswith him.
“We have breakfast together and we get to catch up during the day during our breaks, which happens a couple of times a day. In the evening, we go out within our community. We all have dinner together and maybe watch something on TV. WFH has added a couple of hours tomy family time and the kids are very happy to have us around all the time,” he said.
Creative dad Jamie Atherton and his children went all out to launch a YouTube channel of their own called “We’re the Trons”.