A Paradigm Shift: From A Full-Time Pilot To A Full-Time Dad

The global pandemic, as we all know, has limited us to finding beauty in airplanes high up in the skies. The days of checking in bags at the counters, wrapping bags in plastic to avoid any damages, going to the airport a few hours before, and finding a place to relax before departing are something most of us haven’t done in a while. If we, as passengers, are missing these, can you imagine what pilots and flight attendants must feel? It must have been heartbreaking for them. They aren’t only limited to traveling and doing the things they love, but some of them are being asked to go on unpaid leave or they get laid off altogether. Zulikram, a pilot under Air Asia was one to travel across Malaysia on a daily basis. He would be on his way out first thing in the morning and return home to his wife and kids at night. He would spend fifteen to twenty days per month flying and the longest he spent away from his family was up to four days. In the spirit of Father’s Day, Zulikram shares with Motherhood the things he started to witness more as he started to be a full-time dad. Zulikram’s Take On Stay-At-Home Parent When asked what are the few things he noticed as he spends more time at home, he stated that to be a stay-at-home parent is never easy. “When you don’t have a helper to help you with two little children that are not of school age, you’re basically balancing your housework and spending time with your children.” The never-ending battle of having to divide your time as a stay-at-home parent could be mentally and physically exhausting, according to Zulikram. When you have more than one child, you would need to adapt to both of these children’s needs and personalities. This is the toughest part. Before Zulikram started to be a stay-at-home father, his wife, Farisya, was a full-time mother staying at home with their kids, Maryam Medina and Seth Aiden. This has definitely brought the kids closer to her in times of need such as the kids’ shower time - they will always be asking for Mommy. A Full-Time-Dad and His Kids Patience is one of the most important things when you have kids and you have the whole house to take care of. Zulikram was and still is impressed with Farisya’s level of patience as he admitted that it gets tough for him to be patient with their kids, sometimes. Now, I think that’s something parents all over the world could relate to. It’s never easy to be patient and let our anger pass, but it is utterly important that we do so, especially when it involves younger children. Seth Aiden, the younger sibling, is more adventurous as compared to his older sister, Maryam. He would climb everywhere while Maryam would be more cautious. On top of the climbing, Seth Aiden is also a cheeky boy who likes to try new stuff and at one point, he got his head stuck in between the staircase’s railings! When Zulikram told me this, I can’t help but think of Luke from Modern Family. If you have not watched this show yet, perhaps you could spend some time with your loved ones during this MCO by watching this series - trust me, it’s good! A Blessing In Disguise After having spent years in and out of his cockpit, Zulikram finally has the opportunity to spend some time at home as a full-time dad and witness his kids grow. He said that this is one of the silver linings of the situation, on top of being able to see his children develop and get smarter. According to Zulikram, although this is an unfortunate event, it is now Farisya’s time to shine with her homegrown business, farisyabakes. Instagram: @farisyabakes He spends his days helping Farisya with her business and came up with a small new business himself, named after his two kids: maryanddeans. The business he is currently handling has made him view Farisya in a new light and I suppose in times of darkness, like this pandemic, it’s always nice to see the silver linings. Instagram: @maryanddeans Zuilkram went from navigating airplanes to squeezing lemons and he couldn’t be happier that he managed to get out of his comfort zone. In fact, he has some tips for all of you out there experiencing the same thing as him! Tips To Handle Impromptu Career Change Be patient and be positive. Just look at your family when you’re feeling down, have a good support system, especially from your spouse, to get you through this time. To top that off, Zulikram also mentioned that having savings is absolutely important. Although many of us know how important it is, we seldom see people actually practice it. We understand that having some money in your savings account is not an easy thing to do, so what other option is there? Well, the one thing we can learn from the new full-time dad, Zulikram, is to get out of your comfort zone. “There’s a lot of opportunities for you to get income. You will be surprised at what you can do so you should grab the opportunities!” So mums, if you’re one of those housewives always eager to try something new, take advantage of this trying time and do it! Talk to your partner and ask for their help, because it is now your time to shine! Motherhood wishes all fathers a Happy Father’s Day and thank you for all you’ve done for your family!

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