henry

Home was never a quiet place to be , with children around. Everyday was a battle royal. Fighting over... TV channels... sofa seats...you named it, they have fought over it. When situations arised, I would have a talk with my eldest daughter. Her reactions were not favourable. “Whether I 'm in the right or wrong, I will be reprimanded” was her usual response.

When my eldest daughter was just a one-year old, raising both her hands, my wife told me that looking after a child was a difficult task. She said she surrended, one child was enough. Explained to her that in the course of a child's growing up, she would prefer to communicate and play with children of their age, they have their own world. As parents, we would grow old and would leave this world one day. As the only child, neither would she had siblings to share her joys and accomplishments nor closed ones to confide in when she was plagued with problems. I managed to convince my wife. Two years later, my second daughter was born. Six years down the road, my wife told me that she was expecting our third child, a boy, and she wanted an abortion. Told her that since we were destined to have three children, let it be. Maybe my eldest daughter still harbour the thoughts that I was out to discredit her. One day, she will realise that her siblings were here because we cared for her.

To my children, I have this to say, “I love you all.”