Latest news with #MOTHER'SDay
The Sun
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Dads, the unsung heroes of families
MOTHER'S Day reigns supreme, officially crowned by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914 after Anna Jarvis' tireless campaign. Father's Day, on the other hand, was a definite latecomer. Despite Sonora Smart Dodd championing dads since 1910, it only got President Richard Nixon's official nod in 1972. A 58-year lag! Talk about being fashionably late to the party. This delay may suggest Father's Day was an afterthought – a belated: 'Oh right, dads deserve love too!' moment. But does it truly mean dads have been sidelined while moms bask in the spotlight? Let's explore, with a dash of humour and some mall-watching wisdom from Kuala Lumpur, where dads quietly prove they are the unsung heroes navigating family chaos. Confession time: I have been guilty of treating Father's Day like the opening act to Mother's Day's headliner. In my family, it was a routine – a quick nod to Dad, maybe a quirky mug proclaiming 'World's *Almost* Best Dad', and that was the show. Mom gets the bouquets, the five-star lunches, the whole nine yards. Dad? He is lucky if we remember to wish him, and honestly, he is quite happy with a regular cone of ice cream. It was not malicious, just an unspoken consensus that Dad's fine with a pat on the back and a drink. Maybe it is because dads, like mine, project such chill acceptance. However, observing the vibrant scene at a bustling Kuala Lumpur mall shifted my perspective. I realised we have been utterly underestimating how epic dads truly are. Weekends transform this KL mall into a human zoo. Families swarm, children ricochet off displays and parents operate in survival mode. Armed with coffee, I morph into an amateur anthropologist. The classic dad montage cracks me up every time – one poor soul awkwardly cradling the youngest while two others treat him like a human jungle gym. It is like a live version of 'Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush' as the children circle wildly while dad tries to balance the chaos – cradling the youngest in one arm, the other performing a frantic a dance of gestures. And mom? Likely exploring retail therapy on the seventh floor, perhaps agonising over her third handbag choice. Dad, meanwhile, stays remarkably collected. No yelling, no 'Stop pulling my ear!' – just pure, patient dad energy. Is it love? Survival instinct? The designated child-wrangler while mom conquers the shops? I lean towards love – seasoned with a hefty dose of 'I signed up for this'. My dad embodied worry-free vibes. Mom managed the bills, the schedules and the intense 'Did you do your homework?' interrogations. Dad? He was the guy rolling in at midnight, waking us up with a grin to declare 'Mi-goreng o'clock!' Picture bleary-eyed children sleepwalking to the dining table while dad beamed like a lottery winner, ripping open packs of noodles. We would gorge, bedtime forgotten. Mom would inevitably wake up, shoot 'the look' and mutter about 'irresponsible parenting'. But we adored it. Those forbidden midnight feasts felt like our secret club, undeniable proof that Dad's love arrived in weird, wonderful packages. It was not the 'tuck you in with a story' kind, it was his unique brand: 'I know I've got five kids and right now we are having fun.' Society casts moms as the heart of the home, the nurturers, the boo-boo kissers or the fixers. A poster in my living room declares: 'Home is where mom is'. Dads? Often relegated to providers and the breadwinners who may toss a ball around, if he is in the mood. This stereotype likely fuelled Father's Day feeling like an add-on and it is why dads' quieter sacrifices get overlooked. They are the ones doing the heavy lifting without fanfare, holding the fort (or the baby) in chaotic malls and weathering the toddler. They are the anchors. The lament that 'moms get all the cake' holds water. Pre-Mother's Day, stores explode in colours of cards, gifts and spa deals galore. Father's Day? You may find a sparse rack of 'Best Dad' keychains languishing near the clearance stocks. Social media echoes that Mother's Day trends with heartfelt tributes while Father's Day often gets a 'Here's a tie, love ya' vibe. But crucially, dads are not out there demanding parades. My mall-side anthropology reveals that dads often seem genuinely content being the steady anchor – even while being dragged through a toy store by a determined, everything-wanting child. That is not ignorance; it is a conscious choice to let the family shine while they ensure it does not fall apart. So, let us wrap this up by finally giving dads their due, maybe not flowers, but perhaps a sizzler drink and whatever else. Father's Day arrived late but its meaning is no less profound. Dads do not need a national holiday to prove their legendary status as they demonstrate it daily. This Father's Day, let's move beyond the token card. Plan a family outing he chooses and tell him plainly: 'You're the real MVP.' Let's celebrate the quiet heroes holding it all together. 'MPV' stands for 'most valuable player', by the way! Dr Bhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master's degree in counselling. Comments: letters@
IOL News
15-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Mother's Day tragedy: couple die in fire
'I rushed to their property and also alerted other CPF members on our WhatsApp chat. I was the first person at the scene. At that point, it was unclear whether the couple were in the house or not. Some of the neighbours said no one was in the house. But we had to double check,' said Rajoo. The couple's neighbour and chairperson of the Woodhurst Community Forum (CPF), Roy Rajoo, said he was getting ready to leave home when he noticed the couple's home was in flames. Shanita, a mother of one, would have also celebrated her 61st birthday on Sunday. Shanitha Jeevan, 61, and her husband Indran Naidoo, 65, of Woodhurst, were asleep when a fire broke out in the upper level of their double-storey home at around 5.30am on Sunday. MOTHER'S Day took a tragic turn for a Chatsworth family, when a couple burnt to death during a fire at their home. 'I broke the lock on the front gate and got onto the property. However, I could not get into the house as the flames were intense and high. The fire department arrived a short while later. They broke down the front door to gain access into the house." Rajoo said the firefighters found Shanitha near the door of one of the bedrooms, while Indran was found in another bedroom. 'They both died in the fire. It was traumatic to witness their bodies being removed from the scene. They were a well-known, pioneer couple in our area. At the time, we were afraid the fire would spread to the outbuilding. But when we broke down the door, the couple renting the outbuilding was not inside." Garrith Jamieson, the spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, said the couple died after suffering severe burns. The tenant, who did not want to be named, said she and her husband had rented the outbuilding from the Jeevan's for three years. 'We were not home at the time. On Saturday, my husband and I stayed at my mother-in-law's house. We woke up to frantic calls from neighbours, telling us that our house was on fire. When we got to the house, the firefighters were already putting the fire out. The mortuary van was there and we were told that Shanitha and Indran did not survive the fire. We were devastated." She said that the couple, who had a son and two grandchildren, were loving and did everything together. 'Their son lives in Johannesburg. They loved him and they were proud of him. They were kind to us and treated us like their children. I did not feel like a tenant. I felt like their daughter. They were well-known in the community. Indran grew up in Woodhurst, so everyone was fond of him. They were down-to-earth and would be remembered for their kindness. They were there for me whenever I needed them." She said the couple were devout Hindus and loved conducting their prayers together every day. 'They were proud to host their Hanuman prayers. Whenever Shanitha fasted, she made rhot (sweet offering) and distributed it to everyone in the community. 'They also loved their late night conversations and often had the front door opened. My husband and I enjoyed listening to them. They also loved watching soccer. Recently, we listened to them cheering on Liverpool, while they watched the match in their lounge. Shanitha took good care of Indran and they were a couple that we looked up to as role-models. She treated him like a king, and I am glad they are resting in peace together,' she added. The couple's funeral was on Wednesday at the Clare Estate Crematorium. THE POST
The Citizen
11-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Beyond the bouquets: Caxton moms reflect on the true meaning of Motherhood
MOTHER'S Day is a time when social media feeds fill up with flowers, breakfasts in bed, and heartwarming tributes — but beyond the gifts and gestures, what does the day really mean to the women living it? This year, we decided to flip the camera around and ask the moms in our own newsroom what Mother's Day means to them. The result? Honest, funny, emotional reflections from women juggling motherhood and media — and doing it with incredible heart. Also Read: A message to mothers We captured their thoughts in a short TikTok video (watch it below), and their answers reminded us of something important: Mother's Day isn't just a celebration — it's a moment to recognise the everyday love, sacrifice, and strength that mothers show, often quietly, behind the scenes. All over the world, motherhood looks different. In some places, it's a day of big family gatherings. In others, it's a quiet phone call, or a moment of remembrance. But the meaning is the same: it's about honouring the women who raise us, support us, and carry so much of the emotional load in our lives and communities. We had an array of responses from our team, some emotional, some funny but mostly heart-warming. For many moms, especially in our local community, it's also about resilience — raising kids while working, caring for extended family, and holding everything together, even when it's hard. And that's something worth celebrating far beyond just one Sunday in May. So take a moment to watch the video and hear from the moms in our newsroom. To every kind of mom out there: we see you. We appreciate you. Happy Mother's Day! For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
