I am my father’s daughter. My father is my hero and truly one of my best friends. My father’s humour, language and interactions with people are what I believe shaped me into the person I am today. He has shaped me in so many ways. I find today that I use and pass on many of his teachings and habits in some way.
He always wanted me to be able to stand on my own two feet and not depend on anyone else. He worked hard to ensure I had the chance to study abroad and experience many of this world’s delights. He always encouraged me to travel the world and experience cultures and traditions.
There were no secrets between my father and me. If I asked, he would tell me. If he asked, I had to tell him. Now, I’m a mother to two boys, but I’m still his baby daughter. His importance in my life is what drives me to ensure my boys know the importance of their father.
Without my husband, my son would have never been exposed to the endless outdoor activities he participates in, or learn to manage other tasks, such as problem-solving. My husband is always appreciating, rewarding or even treating our children in ways I don’t or haven’t. He brings life to the family and children.
While it’s true there’s no “perfection” in the way we parent, and many of us have flaws, it’s those experiences that shape us. We try our best. Families will always have struggles. I was once told that 86 per cent of parents today parent differently than the way they were parented. I took that to mean we took on the positive things from our childhoods and left behind those that weren’t, then added to them or adjusted things.
Today, I feel my interaction with people and my communication skills are the result of my father’s teachings. He taught me to always try my best; to question, to reason and to always make a case for anything I wanted. This taught me to negotiate and it also taught me there’s no harm in asking. I will never know unless I ask, so ask away, he would say.
My husband taught me to not expect – when one expects and doesn’t receive, they feel let down, which can be hurtful. I did expect a lot and when I gave and didn’t receive, it hurt. But a blend of their teachings has taught me to have thicker skin.
The men in our lives should not be underappreciated. I need mine. Father’s Day is only a couple of months away, and I feel it has been downplayed in comparison to Mother’s Day. So why don’t we change that this year? Appreciate our fathers and our children’s fathers – for their value, their love, their support and their pure awesomeness. In the end, I am my father’s daughter.
Khawla Saleh is employed full-time and a mother-of-two. She’s currently in the final year of a doctorate in child public health.
If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Shireena Al Nowais on salnuwais@thenational.ae.
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Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
WISH
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21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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BORDERLANDS
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis
Director: Eli Roth
Rating: 0/5
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Director: Sharat Katariya
Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav
3.5/5
SPECS
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Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
Top goalscorers in Europe
34 goals - Robert Lewandowski (68 points)
34 - Ciro Immobile (68)
31 - Cristiano Ronaldo (62)
28 - Timo Werner (56)
25 - Lionel Messi (50)
*29 - Erling Haaland (50)
23 - Romelu Lukaku (46)
23 - Jamie Vardy (46)
*NOTE: Haaland's goals for Salzburg count for 1.5 points per goal. Goals for Dortmund count for two points per goal.