Celebrated on 15 June this year, Father’s Day is a time to recognise and appreciate the many roles that fathers play – as protectors, role models, cheerleaders and caregivers.
UPDATES speaks with two fathers who hold different roles at SPD. They are senior finance executive Evan Chua, a father to a 3½-year-old, and senior physiotherapist in Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) Chandrasekaran Sivanandam, a father to two boys, aged 10 and 14 years.
UPDATES: Tell us more about your family and your family dynamics
Chandra: My family comprises my spouse and my two boys. My first son is in Secondary 2, while my second son is in Primary 4 this year. My wife and I are both physiotherapists. I am passionate about working with young children with developmental needs and my wife works with seniors at another social service agency.
Evan: My family consists of the three of us and we share a close bond. Everyone plays a part in creating a supportive home environment. We value open communication and try to support one another’s growth and well-being.
UPDATES: How do you usually spend time with your family? What do you find most memorable?
Evan: We enjoy everyday moments like family meals, evening walks and short trips to Johor over the weekend. The most memorable times are often the simplest like laughing together at home, playing games or having meaningful conversations.
Chandra: I have a routine of accompanying my sons to the playground almost every day. We would play badminton or football, or go for cycling in the evening. I’d love to see myself more as their “playmate” than a father.
UPDATES: What is your favourite memory as a father?
Evan: My favourite memory is seeing my newborn baby for the very first time. It’s hard to put the experience into words – the overwhelming love that just hit me all at once. I could not believe how such a small person could instantly change everything. That moment is etched forever in my heart.
Chandra: My first son was born overseas since it was an unexpected delivery for my wife. I flew over on the second day to visit them. When I carried him for the first time, it was such a unique and emotional experience.
UPDATES: How has fatherhood changed the way you view life?
Chandra: It has made me more ambitious. I want to give all to my children and be a good role model for them. I do work hard and I love what I do, but my priorities have changed. Since becoming a father, I have been able to find a routine and work towards a better work-life balance.
Evan: Fatherhood has shifted my priorities significantly. I now view life with greater purpose and a longer-term perspective. It has taught me to be more patient and intentional. The feeling is truly like how it is in the movie “Ah Boys to Men”!
UPDATES: What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a father?
Evan: Balancing time between work and family is always a challenge. There is also the responsibility of being a role model and ensuring that my child grows up with strong values and a sense of security.
Chandra: Dealing with a teenage child is a huge challenge now! My elder son stands by his decisions firmly. It is hard to limit his screen time now. These situations are new to me and he gets angry whenever I ask him to limit his game time.
UPDATES: How do you balance work and family responsibilities?
Chandra: The best way is to prioritise my time and plan ahead. I have established a regular routine to maintain a sense of balance between work and family. Having regular set times for meals, work and evening play activities with my children have helped me create more structure during the day.
Evan: It is a continuous effort but I set clear boundaries. I believe work time is for work and family time is non-negotiable. Being present during family moments helps keep that balance in check.
UPDATES: How has SPD’s workplace culture supported your role as a parent?
Evan: The flexibility and understanding shown to me is important to me as a young parent.
Chandra: SPD’s work culture has supported me very well on many occasions. For example, SPD adopts the “Eat With Your Family Day” initiative, held every quarter of the year and on the last Friday of each school term. I can leave work one hour earlier to spend quality time with my family. This allows me to have dinner with them and reduces my stress further.
UPDATES: Are there particular values, skills or experiences you hope to give your children to help prepare them for their future?
Chandra: As a father, I hope that my sons will be responsible and have integrity. A skill I hope to impart to them is to be able to adapt to the changing world.
Evan: I want to instil resilience, empathy and a strong sense of responsibility. I try to expose him to real-life situations where he can learn problem-solving and communication skills and how to manage challenges positively. For example, we are enrolling him in skateboarding, swimming, drum, and piano lessons. We also would like him to join childcare centre-led summer camps in Japan, as we believe it would give my son an unforgettable experience and a chance to explore their rich culture.
UPDATES: As a father to a young child, what are some challenges or worries that you have for their future?
Evan: One concern is how fast the world is changing, especially around technology and social influences. I worry about how to guide him in staying grounded while also being adaptable. Preparing him emotionally and mentally for an uncertain future is something I think about a lot. In addition, choosing a good primary school is always a big challenge for us.
UPDATES: Looking back on your journey as a father, what have you learned that you wish you knew earlier?
Chandra: I’m learning how to handle a teenage son. If given a chance to go back in time, I would have reduced his screen time by setting a password from the time he first started playing mobile games. I have just started to limit his mobile usage, but it is hard to control him now.
UPDATES: What advice would you give to other fathers?
Chandra: I learnt many things from my father. He believed that giving your children a good education is the utmost priority of a father. My siblings and I received all the support needed for a good education.
One advice I’d like to give is to spend quality time with your children every day. This helps to build good relationships and strong emotional bonds, which is crucial especially when they’re younger.
UPDATES: How are you planning to celebrate Father’s Day this year?
Chandra: We are planning to go overseas during the June holiday. I have a feeling that my family is planning to surprise me on Father’s Day. I’m excited to find out what it is!
Evan: We’ll keep it simple with a family meal or a small outing. For me, the best way to celebrate is by spending quality time with my loved ones.
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Be it setting boundaries to protect family time or navigating the ever-changing world of parenting, both Evan and Chandra show us that fatherhood is a journey of heart, growth and unwavering commitment. This Father’s Day, we celebrate all fathers for their strength, sacrifice and the love they pour into their families everyday.
Happy Father’s Day from all of us at SPD!