Father, dear father

Father’s Day, in the UAE, is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. It’s upon us, so what are we waiting for? We had a discussion about why mothers ( all power to them!) seem to have hijacked the parenting baton, while fathers invariably play second fiddle. Look at the forwards and Facebook posts we get on moms — even when it’s not Mother’s Day — and compare that with what we get on dads. Growing up, my friends and I would agree, yes, there was a “bond” with papa, but it’s always mama who’d be the rock in our lives. My father and his brothers ( my uncles) were terrified of their dad ( my grandpa) in their growing up years, and would, every evening, leave the living room immediately after he came back from work and plonked himself on the sofa ( he required alone- time to mull over the day’s work). Even so, when they remember him now, I realise there’s a lot of my grandpa they still retain: memories, of course, but also quirks and idiosyncracies; and then, they often fall back on, “My father used to say…” These days, when the need of the hour ( nuclear families) demands parenting be a lot more hands- on, fathers can no longer be the distant, looming ( yet obviously lovable) figure my grandfather used to be. In our lead feature this week, men talk about their fathers, and then tell us how they fare as fathers. Anything different? You bet. Maybe not the depth, but the sheer range. Here’s to Father’s Day.

A Lupus survivor tells us of her battle with the complex disease. Bollywood’s top five couples who’ve stuck it out through thick and thin. Ramadan fashion. Iftar treats. All this and much more. Enjoy reading wknd. and have a great weekend.

MEN TALK ABOUT THEIR FATHERS, AND THEN TELL US HOW THEY FARE AS FATHERS