LIFESTYLE - MALAYSIA

Watching the kids grow up

Koh Kim Lye with his wife Sally and their brood: (From second left) Tilly, Timorthy, Mimi and Darren celebrating Timorthy’s birthday on April 9 last year.

FATHERS FIGURE
By KOH KIM LYE

It was love at first sight up on Genting Highlands, where I met this wonderful woman. Soon, we became a loving couple. After about three years together, we were very sure that we were meant for each other. So we decided to have a grand wedding and settle down. Then, the wonderful woman became Mrs Koh.

Two years after that, she got pregnant and later gave birth to a cute baby girl. Three more kids followed. By then she had quit her job to become a housewife. While she took care of the household chores and cooked for the family, I acted as a good friend to my colleagues, a loyal husband to my wife, and a responsible father to my children.

Occasionally when I came home during the wee hours of the morning, the sight of the kids peacefully asleep would take away all my tiredness. It is a feeling only a parent will understand.

No matter how busy I was, I would make time for the family, especially on Sundays when there were no school activities and we would go to church. I always made sure, too, to keep track of my children’s studies. Watching them do well in their studies or representing their school in public speaking made all the hard work worth it. Somehow, though, they did not really open up much to me, while they would tell everything to their mum. So, I usually had to seek further information from my wife.

Not to brag but my children matured earlier than others their age. They knew their limits and always thought twice before spending any money. They certainly knew I worked hard for the money.

From their primary school days, my wife always sent food to the kids when they had to stay back in school.

Unlike many children who were not keen to have food from home, my kids never complained. I was very proud of them. Who cares how other people judge you, right? They continued with the habit of bringing food from home, such as cookies and bread, even as teenagers.

I am now retired and enjoying a relaxing life, though not living in clover, that’s for sure. I spend my time ferrying my youngest about, to school and to tuition. I take pride in watching him excel in his exams and I keep encouraging him in many ways.

My eldest child, a girl, is now a very proud nurse at a hospital. My second daughter is still in university. My third and fourth, both boys, are in school. The elder one has just got his SPM results while his brother is struggling in Form Four (“It’s no honeymoon,” he says).

Me? I continue to be a supportive father to the four of them. Life has been one awesome ride for me – I live, I married, and I have childen of my own. As a dad, it’s been a great pleasure seeing my children all grown up and doing well in their lives. I will always be there for them and help them with the problems they may encounter. May they one day be great parents to their own children.

Remember, Papa loves you all and always will.

Star2's Fathers Figure invites fathers of any age and every stripe – rich dad, poor dad, single father, fun dad, tiger dad – to talk about their parenting experiences. Email your stories to star2@thestar.com.my with the subject header ‘Fathers Figure,’ preferably between 600 and 800 words, with a photo attached. Published contributions will be paid. So please include your full name, IC number, address and contact number.