My Dad turned 81 the other day. This is a note I sent him:

Dearest Dad,

You have been a great father, grandfather and role model;
You have spent your life serving the family and mankind;
Your life is not only a successful life, but also a significant one;
Every time I meet people who know you, they have nothing but great admiration for your character and dedication;
You have trusted your children unconditionally, giving them a sound foundation;
I am very fortunate and grateful for having you as my dad;
Thank you and I love you;

“Tell me a story.”  “Read me a book.”  These are words that every parent has heard.  And a new British study shows us what we already know, and what we probably don’t do as often as we need to.

“Almost two-thirds of children want their parents to spend more time reading to them before bed, and most prefer Mom’s storytelling to Dad’s,” researchers said last week.

My father is 80 + years old.  We live together.  He is a fine gentleman.

In his prime, he used to be a successful businessman, a well respected community leader and an energetic man.

What I remember most of his prime years was his selfless approach to living.   He would give of his time, wisdom and resources to one and all.

People used to come to him with all kinds of problems - marital, financial, emotional.   He had a way of making everyone feel touched by his insights, warmth and authenticity.

Yes you can.

When I look at who gives the most in our society, one group stands out: moms.  I know my mom sacrificed a lot here raise five kids.  And in many she sacrificed too much.  So finding the balance is always key.  And it's not easy.

Obviously there are times when you are either a mother or father where there's absolutely no balance.  That is the natural order of things.

The trick is to find out how to take care of yourself whenever it is appropriate – that leads to taking better care of your children.

August 1, 2008 was my dad and mum’s 55th wedding anniversary. My wife tactfully reminded me by leaving a card for me to see when I woke up in the wee hours of the morning (my usual routine).

I wrote out the following and tucked the card inside my parent’s room: Dearest Dad, Mum, Bapa (grandfather) and Dadimaa (grandmother).