My father earned a living as a taxi driver after he quit his hawker business many years ago. Back then when I was in my lower secondary school days, for some reason I was embarrassed of the fact that my dad was a taxi driver.

Now, thinking back, it was rather foolish and silly. Perhaps it was because at that age, our peers tended to compare family backgrounds and there were school bullies who would taunt their classmates whose parents had unglamorous jobs. I remember there was this guy who was taunted just because his father worked a a security guard in a neighbouring shopping mall.

As I grew up, I realised that it does not matter what my parents do for a living, as long as they are legal and decent jobs. In fact, we should respect and be proud of our parents for working so hard to bring us up… otherwise we will not be where we are today.

I am particularly proud of my father who managed to send all three of his children through tertiary education (although I only entered Uni after he left us) by working hard and strict upbringing. Compared to well-off folks who won´t even need to bat an eyelid at sending their children to overseas colleges, I feel it is no mean feat.

He was thrifty, to the extent of not wanting to see a doctor whenever he was unwell. Consequently, it was too late when he finally went to the doctor´s.

That´s why now I tell my mom not to bother about working for a living anymore. Life is only so short, it´s about time she should start enjoying herself… since her children are now able to support themselves and give her allowance. We shouldn´t let history repeat itself and only start to regret when it´s too late.

Who knows, when it´s our turn to become parents… one day we might have to work in ¨unglamorous¨ jobs to provide for our children too. Maybe we will also get disrespect from them then (although I hope I will be able to teach my kids well). Only then will we fully appreciate the pains of being parents.

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