Fatherhood not an easy role

By Ilia L Likou 20 October 2017, 12:00AM

The roles and responsibilities of being a father require a lot of hard work and commitment physically, spiritually and mentally.

It requires unconditional love towards your family, your children.

This was the sentiment echoed by Ete Toala from the village of Papauta when he was approached by the Village Voice team yesterday.

“Fatherhood has taught me about unconditional love especially the importance of giving back and it has taught me how to be a better person,” he said.

Ete has six children with 10 grandchildren.

“It’s not an easy role, my wife and I had struggled to raise our children and I’m so thankful that they’ve all grown up.

“As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible and good people.”

He said he always taught his children to understand that life nowadays was getting harder and more difficult and they needed to keep on working.

“I always challenge my children to open their eyes; life is getting harder and harder, if I faced the sun and the rain and struggled for them to be successful in school all those years, they need to be strong themselves and do well in life so that they can survive together with their children, and their children’s children in the future.

“They never know what tomorrow will bring; they need to stop relying on others but themselves.”

Looking back, Ete explained to the Village Voice his personal struggles raising six children.

“Honestly it’s not easy, especially when God blessed our family with six children,” he explained.

“We all know that it’s not something that you just walk in and you expect to develop your family, and with six children to take care of back in those days – it was really hard and to tell you the truth, I struggled most times.

Ete said back in the days “There were wonderful highs and lows of life – yes, one of many that I went through was the money that I got from my pay was not that much to take care of my family.

“That’s how my family survived up until today.”

He has a simple message for young couples.

“You are required to prepare yourself physically, mentally and spiritually” he said.

“Life back in the days is nothing compared to what’s happening today, I mean the cost of living is skyrocketing.

“We parents need to be smart in budgeting and always take our children as our first priority; if not by us then someone will do it for them.

“We need to stay strong and always trust in the Lord.”

By Ilia L Likou 20 October 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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