Catching up with dad
WHEN I was a baby, everyone in the family thought I looked exactly like my father, Michael Chai. The chubby face, the big eyes and practically everything on my face resembled my dad’s. When I was growing up, he was always on the move just to provide food and education for us.
My parents are overly protective and it can be quite suffocating. Strangely though, I didn’t end up rebellious, especially when I can be pretty wild. Perhaps, they saw my own weaknesses which I weren’t aware of.
I’ve since graduated from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and found a job totally out of my field of study. I’m currently financially independent and while I’m not quite able to help him share the financial burden just yet, I’m definitely no longer a burden to him.
My current position requires me to be on the road often and sometimes travel up to 200km on my own. I’ve less than a year’s driving experience and that’s enough to make my parents freak out. The fact that I sometimes have to stay alone in foreign places without a companion is even harder for them to take.
My dad, despite being a busy businessman, has taken the trouble to adjust his schedule to see to my needs. He would send me to my new work place on a weekly basis or let me drive while he guides me from the passenger’s seat.
During the journey when we explore new places together, he would try to talk me out of this job and remind me that life is too precious to be spent on the road.
Having experienced a similar lifestyle when he was younger, he felt that he had had enough and it wasn’t easy. He didn’t have a choice then, but now that he can offer me a different choice, he questions why I’m still committed to this job.
Knowing full well that he can’t issue commands to me, he tries a different approach by gently grumbling about it or talking it over with me.
I feel truly guilty every time he sacrifices his time just to make sure I safely arrive at my destination. I appreciate the effort that he’s taking to learn to “unleash” me and set me free, but at the same time, I would let him take control of certain situations, especially in areas which I’m not as experienced as he is.
It’s a win-win situation for me and my dad. My superior doesn’t get me. My colleagues are jealous of me. My friends think I am weak. I may not be the healthiest girl around nor the most determined one of all. But for me, it’s only wise to move forward at this stage of life with the support of my family and allow them to see you grow.
I hope my dad can see that I’m trying to be an obedient child. I’ve utmost respect for him and his loving nature, not to mention his capability to take care of his family. He may not be right all the time. But every action he takes speaks volumes of his love and strength.
Many people don’t know this. But my dad and I always sing along to old love songs in the car. I’m guessing my parents fell in love through music and he sings pretty well too. Now I know where those genes came from. We would talk randomly about politics and share the latest crime stories. It is during these long journeys that we catch up and chat.
As I get older, we have more in common and talk about more subjects.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish my dad a Happy Father’s Day. Although I am more expressive with my love for mum, it doesn’t mean I love him any less.