In a special edition of #VoicesOfAWWA and in celebration of Father’s Day, we shine a light on some extraordinary fathers. Meet Mr Zahri, who has taken a step back in his career to be a committed full time caregiver for his son, Eishan.
“When my son was first diagnosed with Autism, I decided to give up my vehicle garage and repair business to become a full-time caregiver. It has always been my regret missing my older daughter’s milestones, so with Eishan, I wanted to make sure I was there to watch him grow. Looking after Eishan has been a privilege for me as he is a very special child who will always appreciate us for all the small gestures. He never fails to say thank you for cooking for me, thank you for showering me, thank you for playing with me! It brightens my day whenever he shows us his appreciation.
However, there are instances when he throws tantrums, and as a special kid, he doesn’t tell lies. Sometimes, he will say very hurtful things when he is upset or angry. I learnt from the teachers at AWWA Early Intervention Centre that it helps to be at the same eye level as him when talking to him. So now, when he gets frustrated, I will kneel down and hug him and talk to him nicely, and that helps to calm him down. All his tantrums will melt away!
I would like to encourage all fathers out there to have lots of patience and communicate with your family members. By doing so, you can do a good job together as a team. Show your child lots of love, and be involved in their milestones so that you won’t regret next time.”
