Being a great dad and lovin’ it

Fatherhood is one of the best joys a man can experience. It’s the best of jobs, with challenges, and it can bring forthmuch happiness. Englishman J. Andrew Davison believes hands-on fatherhood is exciting, exhilarating, fulfilling, challenging, practical and fun.

“It’s an incredible privilege and I love every moment of fatherhood. It’s an awesome responsibility. I clown around with the children, tumble on the floor, playing make-believe and this opens up a whole different world for me.” Davison, who has three children — Sisi, 13, Michael, eight, and Angelina, four — with his Indonesian wife Lini Davison, said there was enjoyment in giving your children a tickle, just talking to them and sharing their discoveries that leads to plain fun.

Bonding time: Davison takes time from his busy schedule to spend quality time with his daughter Angelina, 4, and son Michael, 11, who enjoy computer games at their home in Section 17, Petaling Jaya.

“This my second marriage and Lini is a wonderful mother to the children,” he added. Davison, who has been living in Malaysia since 1988, said he used to be a workaholic and did not have enough time for himself or his family from his first marriage. He has three children with his first wife. “However, now I allow the staff to handle things while I spend more time with the children and Lini.”

“It’s an incredible privilege, not only to be the one to whom the children turn to for help, comfort and advice. Bonding, having a strong, caring relationship with the children can help them grow into healthy and well-balanced individuals, equipped with the skills to not just stand alone in the world, but to be happy in it as well,” he said. Davison said he still keeps in touch with his three children from his first marriage.

Moments to cherish: Davison and his wife Lini (second from right) playing with their children. (From left) Michael, Sisi and Angelina.

“Being an expatriate, it is easier to get carried away with all the socialising and over time you end up neglecting your kids.The younger years are precious and short. Our children won’t always be so willing to share their time once they start school,” he said. The doting father added that he had eliminated words like “later” and “tomorrow” from his vocabulary when it came to the children and even Lini. Lini affirmed that her husband was a loving father and husband.

Davison said that when it came to being parents, it was a 24-hour job. “You can’t forget parental worries just because you are at the office. Always prioritise the children and try to appreciate the view of life through your children’s eyes,” he said. Davison, in turn, praised Lini for her caring nature and said “she is the livewire at home.”

“Coming to Malaysia and bringing up the family is the best decision as the key things I like about the country are the warmth of most Malaysians I meet. “Most Malaysians also understand English, which makes it even easire for me. The wonderful weather here is just the icing on the cake,” he said.

He added that he loved most Malaysian food especially Malay curries like chicken and fish head curries. “You know some of the Indian dishes like Tandoori and mutton Rogan Josh (red lamb curry) are my favourites too, said Davison.

“With all the good food, weather and with so many different celebrations, it just keeps me wanting to know more about the people, cultures and their languages or dialects.

-thestar online.