A Belated Father's Day Daewe aung

As many of us know, the 5th of December was Father's day. Many people opted to celebrate their father in a nice restaurant, or a day well spent with the family. For this year’s fathers day, let’s hear stories of ISB student's parents and what we look forward to seeing in the year 2023.

Selina Phyo is a new sophomore student here at ISB. To say the least, she was not ecstatic to hear the news that she’d have to leave her school of multiple years in Myanmar. Moving to Thailand meant that she’d leave her friends, her brother, and her father. As he is the main breadwinner, her father can only visit Bangkok from time to time, since he works in Myanmar. “My fondest memories would be whenever we went on a trip. There were always times when it would just be me and my dad exploring the places rather than the entire family.” These private moments with one another are memories and Phyo says is something she can always look back on.

Typically considered to be the “pillar” of the family, an interview conducted with child entertainer and fatherhood advocate Derrick David Briant described stigmatism and the relation between toxic masculinity and fatherhood.

Through beliefs that men in their nature cannot be sensitive or in tune with their psyche can carry onto our own children, and how they may chose to raise them. “Oftentimes, traditionally masculine fathers opt to keep their burdens to themselves. But their love is felt through the hardships they carry.” Briant denotes. In example of this statement, 12th grader Su Hnin Htet had spoken “To be honest, I never know what he’s [her father’s] thinking over half of the time, but he’s a good dad.” As this is her senior year, one thing she’s looking forward to for 2023 is getting into good colleges, and being done with high school.

This year’s fathers day was not subjected to only fathers, but mothers and caretakers in general. Jaiahna Vang is an 8th grader, whose father is currently working in the states, after him and her mother had gotten divorced when she was four. “Of course, it stung a little at first. But after a bit, you realize what you have around you." Jaiahna says.

"I love my younger siblings and I try my best to be the role model I can be for them. Most of all, I love and am grateful for my mother, for being the strongest woman I know."

This year’s father’s day, she and her two younger siblings had woken up early to cook their mother breakfast, and then spent the day downtown. When asked the question of what she was looking forward to next year, she contentedly replied; “to another year with the only family I’ll ever need.”

As the New Year is inching even closer, deadlines are nearing, and the excitement of looking forward to the future, it is important to take a moment and reflect on what surrounds you, and those who’ll be by your side every step of the way. Happy belated father’s day, and here’s to the end of a long year.

citations:

Hylton-Schaub, Annmarie. “The Crisis of Masculinity and Fatherhood.” Project Good Work, 17 June 2021, www.projectgood.work/blog/2021/6/9/the-crisis-of-masculinity-and-fatherhood.

Appreciate