Playing dual role
To his eight girls, retired teacher Ricky Leong is simply that
Since his wife’s death, a retired teacher has been mum and dad to his eight daughters.
PETALING JAYA: His wife’s death shattered him but he brushed aside his grief and put on a strong front for their eight daughters. All because he knew he had a bigger role to fill – becoming both mum and dad for his girls.
So, retired teacher Ricky Leong gave home tuition while juggling household chores like preparing meals and driving the children to school.
“He didn’t have much time for anything else,” said his sixth daughter, Jasmine Leong, 33. “He did more than he needed to because he didn’t want to let my mum’s departure affect us as we grew up.”
Jasmine lost her mum to cancer when she was 14. She said most of them were still studying at that time. “Two of my elder sisters were the only ones working then.”
As Ricky struggled to provide for the family, Jasmine’s working sisters helped out, especially in looking after the younger ones.
“We lived modestly and made the best of what we had.
“For college and university, we depended on my sisters who were working,” she said, adding that gradually, each of them started working and got married, much to their father’s delight.
Today, Ricky is a 72-year-old grandfather of seven. He keeps himself busy and his daughters and their families come home for dinner twice a week. And, when they do, he still whips up a feast for them.
Jasmine recalled an incident when she was crying in her room and her father just stood outside, even though he was concerned.
“He felt helpless because he didn’t know what to do or how to console me.
“When I found out, I knew that was to be the last time I was going to cry in his presence,” she said, adding that “he was always there to catch us in his own ways whenever things got rough.”
Calling her father a hardworking and resilient man, Jasmine said Ricky, who was skilled at carpentry, led a simple life and never asked for much.
“He prays for the health and safety of his family most of the time.
“One of the things he enjoys most is to see all of us chatting in the living room.
“He loves seeing his grandchildren play with the toys that he still keeps at home,” said Jasmine, who works as a manager.
Normally, on Father’s Day, the daughters get together and treat Ricky to a meal.
“We will usually get him a gift but more importantly, we give him a card. He has kept every card that he has received from us, usually handmade ones,” she said.
As for her message to him this Father’s Day, Jasmine wants him to know: “You are an amazing dad. Thank you for being so selfless.
“There are eight of us and only one of you. You have brought us up well and now, it’s our turn to be there for you.
“We love you for all the love, effort and time you have spent with us and doing whatever was best for us.”