I started this weekend with a bit of a frustration. There were some work things that I couldn’t complete on Friday but because the weekend was here and most people stopped working I had to wait till Monday. It was something that seemed to happen more and more often with me these days. Looking forward to Monday when the weekend just begins. Not because I don’t enjoy the weekends but because I wanted to get my work done on Monday.
This weekend was just like that. I finished whatever work I could conceivably finish without having to wait for anyone else on Monday and then spent the rest of the weekend exercising (cycling and badminton) and spending time with my family.
With my wife I took her to our usual weekend cafe-hunting when we would find a new cafe and have brunch together once we put the kids to sleep in the late morning.
With my daughter Penny it was just having her lean on my chest as I watched TV. She seemed to really enjoy leaning on my chest.
And then with Fighter it was taking him to the mall for a little walk. This time as we walked into a toy shop he went in and chose a toy he really wanted and didn’t want to let go of it. It was the first time he’s been like that. Normally he forgets and he’s okay with choosing something else. But this time… there was this stuffed llama that he just wanted. So as expensive as it was I decided to buy it for him.
By the end of the weekend I had already began to miss the beginning. I’m looking forward to getting work done tomorrow of course but there’s something about the time I spent this weekend that was priceless. That I spent it creating new memories with my family and my loved ones.
I once told Shorty that I think I would be really happy living a typical American suburban life and going to Wal-Mart or Westfields every weekend but she didn’t believe me. She said I would be bored and always wanted more.
After this weekend I’m more and more convinced that I think that would be enough for me. Being able to spend time with my family every weekend. Take them out, play with them teach them, lecture them even sometimes… everything that would involve creating memories with them.
I didn’t do many of the things I set out to do this weekend. Shorty and I wanted to watch Avengers or Pitch Perfect 2 but we didn’t. Heck we wanted to finish watching the episode of Sherlock that we were on for days but still didn’t manage to. But still I feel contented and happy. I feel it was a weekend very well spent because it was a weekend that I spent building memories with my family.
Is having time to spend with your family on weekends not enough?
I think it’s enough for me. I can’t wait for next weekend to come.
Timothy Tiah – Co-Founder of Colony, Kuala Lumpur Co-Working Space