God gives us the courage to bear such losses

I have known the father for the past year and he has faced tremendous obstacles in that just one year ago they were involved in an accident with severe injuries (‘Sharjah tragedy: Brothers die in fire’, Gulf News, May 8). He was left alone when he was very young by his father and he struggled his whole life. He is an honest and brave man. You wouldn’t know his pain to see him, but after this horrific fire he was all broken when I met him in Sharjah at the graveyard for the final funeral of his beloved children. We say that God gives pain to those who can bear it and to those who are near to Him. No doubt God is the only one to give courage to bear this kind of tragic loss. We are with him and his family and we don’t want them to feel alone. God bless them.

From Mr Hassan Khan

Dubai

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So much sadness

Rest in peace to the little ones. No words can describe the sadness. Give patience to the parents. I’m extremely sad to hear this tragic news.

From Ms Fazeela Qasim Khan

UAE

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We have no time

Increased expenses force parents to work extra in order to keep our company happy, which eventually creates distance from children and makes them sad (‘Parents need to make time for their children’, Gulf News, May 8). We have adjusted and made it a part of our life. Week days at work and Fridays are spent on household work. We have no time.

From Ms Ashiyana Firoz

Dubai

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Parental priorities

I sincerely hope that the special report will serve as an eye opener for all parents and would-be parents, too. Most of the parents nowadays mistakenly believe that if they fulfil the basic physical needs of their children, their duty is over. They even take that as an excuse to work overtime, saying they need the money to secure their future. But please remember that as well as physical needs, your children need your mental, emotional and social support in various stages and aspects of their lives. An insecure attachment with the primary caregiver in infancy, mainly due to the physical absence, can result in insecurities in life, weakening of the bond between parents and children. The problems occur when they make their own relationships in their adult life. The social problems, the emotionally insecure adolescents, are an altogether different matter. So, my humble request to everyone is to please make it a priority to spend quality time with your children. Start doing it now and you will notice the difference in just a few days in not only their behaviour or studies, but in their general attitude.

From Ms Sajida Kamal

Abu Dhabi

Be your own boss

Money works for businessmen and workers work for money. For those who can’t spare time for their family, they should start their own business so then money will work for them and they will be with their family. The UAE is a perfect country for everyone to become their own boss.

From Mr Mohammad Jahangir

UAE

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No choice

We work because we have many expenses to pay. There are weekly meetings for five hours. Imagine children living in their countries with a nanny or with grandparents. I pity the conditions that some are living in because salaries are often not enough to pay the schools, the bus and the food. Parents are stressed. It’s a bad situation. At least if rents and school fees were less, we could manage somehow.

From Ms Purnima Kamal Al Deen

UAE

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Bringing home more

Parents need to earn more for their families to survive. Things can go badly for some people and they barely have a proper lifestyle, whereas on the other hand, some people don’t need to do anything and they simply get everything. Parents are working way too hard just to get few more pennies home so that their children can have what they don’t have.

From Mr Bakhtawar Ąhmad

UAE

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Job risks

Though we get paid, we work very hard. We have very little time to spend with families, especially with our children. It’s been a really difficult family lifestyle. The cost of living keeps going up. All expenses keep going up, but no one gets a decent pay rise, bonus or incentive. At the same time, we can’t change jobs or find a new job, because it’s risky to find just any job – we need to ensure good pay and job security.

From Mr Careem Farook

UAE

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