How to be a Great Dad

A family is a team that works together for a common goal to have a healthy, happy and a secured life (both financially and emotionally) for themselves and their children. SBI Life Insurance Ad_1

While a mother is the pillar of strength and the foundation of a family, the father is the nurturer and protector.

We come from a defence background and this brilliant advert from SBI Life Insurance brought back fond memories from our childhood. Dad was in the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army and our concept of a smart, handsome, respected and a man of principles came from him.

For my brother and I, Dad is our first hero and always will be. Even today in spite of being parents ourselves, my brother and I still look up to him for advice, suggestions and guidance.

The way our Dad teamed up with Mum to bring us up is commendable. He showed us how to care, love and share and how to be financially self reliant and independent.

The shoe-polishing scene from the SBI Life Insurance advert is such a fun and typical part of an army childhood. Dad taught us to polish our school shoes until it shone bright. My brother and I would often compete as to who’s shoes were more brightly polished and whether we could see our face on the polished shoes! 😀

Mum and Dad both have worked very hard to give us a happy childhood. Dad taught us how to save money; so both my brother and I had piggy banks and whenever we helped Mum in the kitchen or ran errands for her she would give us a few rupees that we could save up.

Later when my brother started going to college, he worked at various places during his summer vacations and earned his own pocket money, which further instilled a lot of financial SBI Life Insurance Ad_4discipline in him.

I remember when was in Grade IV Dad opened a savings account for both us at a nationalised bank and I was their youngest account holder. At that age I knew how to fill up a deposit slip and deposit my pocket money that I earned by running errands and helping Mum at home.

One fine day I remember I walked to the bank with a little bag full of coins that I had saved up over.

The teller at the bank clerk refused to accept the coins and I went back home disappointed. Dad was having his morning tea when he saw me back home with the coins. He quickly left his tea and took me back to the bank to meet the bank manager.

He explained to the manager that he is trying to teach me about finances and how to save money and if banks don’t encourage children and are not friendly towards them then how as adults can they teach the next generations to value money and save it!

The bank manager was such a nice gentleman, he apologised and patiently counted all the counts from my bag, which amounted to a princely sum of Rs. 127/-, and he took out Rs. 127 rupee notes from his wallet and asked me to go and deposit it at the counter while he kept the coins.

Ever since I’ve been the bank’s most popular and yes the youngest account holder as I could barely see the teller at the counter. I would stand up on my toes to give them my collected money and the teller would gladly accept it.

SBI Life Insurance Ad_6When he retired and started his own business and even when he worked as a senior executive director at a top computer company in India, if Dad was not traveling he would take us swimming, attend our parent teacher’s meetings, help us with our homework and school projects and above all, his dedicated attention to financial savings and financial security for all of us has given us a secured present and a good future. So is he a great Dad? No, he’s the BEST DAD! 🙂

If mothers can do the balancing act of managing the house, looking after their husbands and children, work and cook, then even fathers can surely balance the act by pitching in by being there for their family, ensuring that his wife and kids are respected, well looked after, leading a safe and secured life both emotionally and financially.

Life in the armed forces and even otherwise is uncertain and only a loving father realises the importance of a financial stability and security for his wife and children. So don’t wait for the right time – get a trusted brand such as the SBI Life Insurance for your family for a secured future so that you may enjoy your today with them.

Get Featured & Promote your Brand: SBI Life Insurance Ad_3

Write to us at tanya@tanyamunshi.com to promote your brand through a Sponsored Feature, a Product Review and a Sponsored Contest for a nominal fee.

It’s a great way to connect with our readers across the country and world wide.

4 thoughts on “How to be a Great Dad

  • February 12, 2015 at 1:35 pm
    Permalink

    Such a touching story!

    Reply
  • February 13, 2015 at 3:21 pm
    Permalink

    Beautiful! Loved the ad as well!

    Reply
  • March 19, 2015 at 8:20 pm
    Permalink

    That’s a lovely piece. Although I feel somehow today all these values especially financial prudence, are really not high on our agendas as parents. We fill their lives with “things” and then fret that our child does not value them the way we used to. I remember my father’s favourite dialogue when I asked for something -“what have you done to deserve this” … For a long time I held it against him. But very soon I realised the worth of those words. I earned my first bicycle in class 3rd. That’s how early it all started.

    Reply
    • March 20, 2015 at 8:23 am
      Permalink

      Hi Swati,
      Thanks for sharing your beautiful memories of valuable lessons from your father. You’re so true. Our fathers belonged to a time where they instilled the habit of valuing every little thing in our lives. I’m so glad our write-up found a connect with you.
      regards,
      Tanya

      Reply

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: