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In an email interview, Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Vice-President of Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Moves and Former Nominated Member of Parliament, shares with The Dads for Life Resource Team that…
... he delights in his daughter, and finds great pleasure in her unique gifts and talents.
Viswa: I have one child, a daughter, Maya, aged 12. She just completed her primary schooling and is geared up to start secondary education in the School of the Arts (SOTA). Maya is a warm, loving, intelligent and sensitive soul. She also has a delightful, almost wacky, sense of humour!
... he and his wife are thankful for their daughter.
Viswa: Maya is Godsend to my wife and me, after 11 years of trying to have a child. Since Maya came into the equation, our travel plans and schedules have generally been centered on what would make her happy. Like many children her age, she has been influenced by Disney’s characters, like the Cheetah Girls. Maya is enamored by the ‘romantic’ nature of Paris, the French Riviera and Milan.
... he enjoys giving his daughter the type of holiday experience she is keen on, while getting her to try other stuff.
Viswa: While it appears inevitable that we take her to some of these places at some point, we have generally emphasised to her the need to get to know our own region first, which has so many fascinating places to explore. So, we have travelled to several places in India – Pune, Chennai, Kochi and explored the great outdoors near these places. We have also visited Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and various parts of Australia.
We have always enjoyed these trips together a lot. This year we are going together to Los Angeles and San Francisco for two weeks, and particularly to make Maya happy, Hollywood is on the itinerary!
Maya is beginning to appreciate the value and fascinating experience of going to "off mainstream" locations like Africa, and many other parts of Asia. It is about experiencing the place and the culture raw, and growing together as a family through the “non-5-Star” experiences and the sharing that comes naturally in such trips.
... travelling with his daughter helps him better understand her.
Viswa: Travelling together has helped us bond, mainly because we get to see the best and the not so good sides of each other – and because we are close to each other, the incentive to accommodate and strive to have a great time is strong.
In addition to trips as a family, Maya and I have been going on "daughter-father-bonding" trips annually, since she was five years old. We both look forward to it very much as after each trip we feel so much closer to each other – mainly because of the sharing, the caring and the fun (we both love adrenalin-rushes, such as roller coaster rides, which my wife, Audrey, absolutely dislikes!).
After each trip, I receive confirmation that my wife is a freer spirit than I, and a true blue Bohemian "beach bum", and that my daughter is a cool, fun package and a seasoned mediator when the adults argue!
... he works with his family to plan their holiday trips.
Viswa: To plan our trips, we have a family discussion to make broad decisions on where to go, why and for how many days. Then my wife and daughter do the checking up. Maya’s research is essentially Internet based, and my wife often check with her friends and contacts – on the key, exciting things we can do on location. We jointly decide on the tentative itinerary and then usually my wife proceeds to make the arrangements – flight, accommodation and internal travel.
Some considerations for Dads:
• Avoid micromanaging – once you have entrusted your wife to make the arrangements. There are bound to be differences of views, but try and accept it so to reduce tension during the holidays.
• Ensure clear bandwidth for the holiday – avoid laptops and work issues from distracting you, difficult though it may be. Otherwise you end up shortchanging not only your own peace of mind and happiness, but that of your co-travellers.
• Have flexibility in budgeting – we should accept that almost always you will overspend, at least by a bit. For peace of mind, provide for a buffer in your mind.
... he is most content when given a chance to be close to the ones he loves.
Viswa: A successful trip is when we all come back with smiles and feel recharged, though physically tired and jetlagged, and when we feel closer to each other as a family.
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With the pressures of examinations out of the way, the year-end holidays make for a great opportunity to spend extended time with your children. Plan your schedule well, so that you make time to bond over activities and get to know them better. Share with your children the joy of giving by sharing your time or resources to loved ones and worthy causes.
Quick Reads
Dads for Life compiles a snapshot of fathers and their holiday plans, activities, and reflections.
Show your children how to choose suitable presents to express what they think or feel about a person or occasion. Here are eight great nuggets of wisdom on giving.
How does a dad choose a gift project to do with his kids? Here are five fabulous tips.
Unearths eight great gift projects that will get you bonding with your kids. In the process, store up a decent stash of presents for friends and family.
Taking your family to an exciting destination for a fun vacation stay is possible with less than SG$150/pax. Here is how we do it!
In an e-mail interview, Fandi Ahmad shares with Dads for Life about his roles as Singapore’s favourite football son, player, coach and now dad. He also talks about holiday activities with his children.
Mr Viswa Sadasivan, Vice-President of SINDA, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Moves and Former Nominated Member of Parliament, shares about how his family reinforces their bonds through holidays.
Hungry Monkey, a Food-loving Father’s Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater, makes eating fun. Author, Matthew Amster-Burton, a restaurant critic and food writer, did not put aside his self-identity as a bona-fide foodie once he became a dad. Rather, he embarked on an amazing adventure which he called a “second honeymoon with food.”
Whatever you think of the word “geek”, this book is for you. Packed with projects that will suit any timeframe and budget, Ken Denmead’s book will surely convert you into one -a Geekdad, at least. With your kids, find interesting solutions for problems that can be solved in a more mundane fashion. Play, build and learn together.
Have a thought or insight? Read more and talk on this Theme here! |
About the Author: The Dads for Life Resource Team comprises local content writers and experts, including psychologists, counsellors, educators and social service professionals, dedicated to developing useful resources for dads.
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