It’s all about him!

My relationship with my dad is similar to what the movie Dangal is like. 

He was a little bit disappointed that I was a girl not a boy; the policy in China was pretty clear that every family only allow having one child. My dad is a boy who loves to hang out with his mates, having a son means he could do a lot of sports.

My mum told me when I was three, that was the first time I visited the swimming pool with my parents, I jumped into the deep water area instantly with full excitement! My mum was about to faint, and my dad jumped into the pool. He didn’t get me out, instead, he kept me in the pool and started teaching me swimming. 

Dad was extremely busy working on his start-up and mum did shift work. I was sent to a boarding kindergarten, so summer holiday was always my favourite season. I spent the morning working hard playing the piano, then when my dad came home we switched to dry practising swimming to get the technique right. We’d jump into the pool and test how much I learned, put this way, from aerodynamic to hydrodynamic. We often celebrate by eating street food if I did well. 

He is a true artist by understanding people’s strength, weakness and potential. Then apply the right way to help them reach the goal step by step, deeply understand when to lift or crush, and have fun! I love swimming but I’m currently running a lot to get my body ready to jump into the pool again the other side of lockdown. Swimming’s the best way to meditate, merge with the water – that is the best relationship. My teenage dreamboat was Ian Thorpe, I still kept his photo in my study room in Shanghai. Once I found out he is homosexual, I got full respect for him choosing standout with a lot of judgement at a time it was even harder than now.

I have a confession to make. I love music but not a great pianist. If I could choose, cello would be my favourite. Yoyo Ma is the best by adding extra flavour into a piece. My dad caught that bit and introduced me to a whole world of music: rock and roll, jazz, classical, etc. The goal was to pass grades and we did it, as a team! I still play the piano and love Mozart. He had a tragic life, but his pieces reflect cheerfulness, joy and hope. It’s hard to turn a complicated life into pieces that look so simple but resonate other’s heart and soul. 

My mum is also a good swimmer and runner, she complemented dad so well, he is a toyboy and relies on her emotionally a lot. He always tried his best to provide what my mum need in life and work. Three of us are a very competitive family so school sports day was my favourite. There was one sport I remember we won by a lot, tie up our feet then move forward (a four-legged race?). My dad was the strategist, my mum was the supporter, and I was the executor because I was the little one, but they let me do things and help to achieve. We tweak a little during the process by understanding our body movements, breathing sequence and who is getting weaker. We did compete almost like we were in Olympic, looking back now, it was kind of daft. The initiator was always my dad.

He always appears outgoing and has a lot of friends and business allies. However, as I grew up, I found out he is an introvert. He trained himself to pump the energy to others and doing a lot of “dry tests” before he executes. 

I can mumble about him and my mum for days (just ask my husband). He is the toughest person I have ever met, and is always eating humble pie behind the crowd, but rewards people who have a big appetite for life! 

I wish all the fathers are having a marvellous day! Take a break, you deserve it!