Being a Father/Parent

I never knew being a father would be so tough and so rewarding at the same time. After being a father for two years and counting, I have to say that the hardest part is keeping my emotions in check. Sometimes I feel like my son listens to me and he's doing what I ask. And other times I feel he wants to make me mad to see how far he can push me before I do something like yelling at him. At times, I feel like the Green Monster is peeking just wanting to get out and start the rage!

One of the greatest feeling in the world is when you're bilingual and your kid understands both languages that you're talking to them in. I had a fun little interaction with my son some time ago when I asked him in Chinese 你好嗎 (How are you?) and in return, he answered in English "I'm Fine!". It was such a tender moment that I was stunned. I wasn't expecting him to say that, especially in English. That's when your heart melts and you get a big smile on your face. And say to yourself, I did something right!

There are other times, when the TV is off and you bring a book for him to read along with. Sometimes its more of him trying to see the pictures of the book himself and sometimes its me trying to wrestle the book away from him so he doesn't rip the pages. Its a learning experience, for the both of us.

Then there are times, when things don't go mommy and daddy's way and the kid isn't happy either. The tantrum begins and no one in the house is happy. That's the time that we need to suck it up and find out why he's unhappy. Maybe he's hungry, or maybe he needs a nap or maybe he wants to use the iPad. So many questions, but in the end it comes to one thing. Mommy and daddy needs to practice more.

And possibly instead of the kid getting a time out, the parents need a time out too. I don't like punishing ourselves for thinking that we're doing a bad job, but kids know way more than us. Go to the corner and think about what you did, mom and dad!