Last Sunday I went to walk alone.My wife has a lot of things to do at home and my kids are too tired to follow me.As I was leaving the jogging track,I saw a man walking together with his wife and kids as shown in the photo. That was a beautiful sight as far as I am concerned.As I focus my camera lens,I got a pleasant suprise.The man was my friend.From my experience,the kids will grow up in no time,and soon they would prefer to be on their own or move out from our house.If we don't take this opportunity,we will be missing this type of family togetherness.In five years time,in all probabilty,I will be walking without my kids if my wife and me are still around.They will have their own lives to live just what I did when I grew up and got married.The cycle will repeated...
When I was in my late 30's and led a very hectic life as a CEO of public listed company on KLSE,I missed a lot of quality time with my growing children.Realising this, I quit my job and started my own business whereby I could have more time with my family but with less income when I started as small time businessman.I prefer to eat and still have the cake, but the reality of life is that most of the time we couldnot have both.Of course, some do have both.
By the way,I am NOT propagating to you that you should stop being a hardworking executive building up your career.By all means,please do BUT do ensure there is some balance between our careers and our family lives.A few of my friends even 'lost' their children,and by the time they realised,it was already too late.Only if you are Dr Who with his time machine can come back to the time when your children were younger. Looking back,I wish I could have more time with my kids when there were younger.To make up for the lost time, I now spend more time with them even though they are young adults.
family is a gift from god...irreplaceable!
Posted by: lina | Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 07:31 AM
You have a great family. Keep it up and together. Yes, I concur that the time will come when I and wife will be a romantic duo again; dulu tak sempat nak romantik, dapat anak awal sangat..... :-0
Posted by: Gukita | Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 09:28 AM
Life in KL nowdays becoming suck. Welcome to the suck.
Posted by: maher | Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 03:57 PM
Iphicrates, the Athenian general who fought Sparta during the Corinthian War (394-387BC) once said to Harmodius: 'The difference between us is that my family begins with me, whereas yours ends with you.' How true it is as an old English proverb says..'A family that prays together, sticks together.'
Posted by: mbah Lanang | Tuesday, March 14, 2006 at 10:17 PM
your writing reminds me of myself. at my thirties and also at the crossroad, between a budding family and career. as always, a man is a man on his own. gotta to choose what is my utmost priority. i think if needs be, i shall forfeit all as long as i have my family together. it has been really sad these few days. so many questions i am asking myself, but i know not so many of them for the answers!
Posted by: may | Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 12:41 AM
i miss walking in KLCC. won't be able to do it this week. f1 fever. will try to be there next sunday. normally i'll be going with my other half and sometimes with our son.
Posted by: mhi | Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at 09:24 PM