I overheard a conversation yesterday as I sat beside a Caucasian father with his daughter on his lap.

The girl said “Daddy, last night you did not pat me to bed and tell me a bedtime story.”
The dad smile benignly and replied, “sweetie, daddy was busy working and came home late last night.”
“But daddy, you did promise me.”
“I’m sorry sweetie.”
“It’s alright daddy, I still love you”, said the little girl, beamingly. And, she gave her dad a bear hug.
“Daddy loves you too.”


And..

I thought that was really sweet!

I couldn't remember my parents saying that to me during my childhood days..
In Asian families, i rarely see such a practice of parents verbalizing how much they care and love their child, much less to talk about greeting each other in the morning or in the night, and even to hug their child to show their affection.
Despite the age, i strongly believe that an affectionate hug at times is needed for a child to feel reassured that their parents still care. I mean, i myself would very much like that and also at times when things go wrong, i would like my parents to reassure me with just the sentence of "everything would be alright."
Weird person i am, but I actually have to tell my sister to come and tell me that sentence when i felt really sore about things. Though her tone wasn't the correct and comforting one, but nevertheless, i still want to hear it.
So yes, in future when i have my own kids, i would practice showing real physical care and concern to my children, just like how westerners do, be it a simple hug, or a simple whisper of prayer in their ears before they sleep :)



harmony--laughter--happiness--love