I REFER to the report, “Aim of new network for dads: More time with kids” (my paper, November 17), and other stories in the press about fathers and fathering.

When I knew that I would be a father, I decided that I would give it my best shot.

I did not receive good parenting from my father when I was growing up.

Even these days, Asian fathers are lacking when it comes to getting to know their children.

More often than not, we leave child-rearing to our wives, who are as exhausted as their husbands from work.

We thought that it was sufficient for us to bring home the bacon and did not see a need to spend time with our children and get to know them well.

We shortchanged our children by not fulfilling our roles as fathers and leaving them with a poor impression of what a father should be.

Fathering can be fun and meaningful if one puts time and effort into the relationship.

Children who have received proper care from fathers grow up to be secure and confident.

The best gift that we can give our children is a loving and caring family environment for them to grow up in. Anything less is simply unimaginable.

MR GILBERT GOH KEOW WAH

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