Musings from Dennis #287. From the moment the nurse placed my first twin in my arms, something shifted in me. I knew instantly that life would no longer be lived for myself alone — it would now be for this little boy, and for his brother who arrived moments later.
They were born during my Takashimaya years, a season when
sleep came in 4–5 hour fragments because these two were not easy
sleepers. But even in the exhaustion, there was purpose.
When they turned five, we received news that the Disney CP
SEA office would close by year’s end. My first thought wasn’t about my career —
it was about them. How do I continue providing? That question sat heavily on me
for months until the master licensee deal with FCI came through.
At eight, they saw me go through one of the toughest periods
of my working life. The stress was so intense that I once sat in tears,
seriously considering quitting. But again, I held on — because the people at
home needed me, the only breadwinner.
Fast forward to the end of 2023. I finally felt peace to
step away from my job. By then, one twin had already been working for a few
years, and the other was in the final stretch of medical school. I often joked
that Disney paid for their early years, and Nickelodeon paid for their college
and university years — and it’s true.
Today, as my wife and I enjoyed the Father’s Day lunch they
treated us to, I found myself looking back with gratitude. The struggles, the
sleepless nights, the stress — they all led to this moment. The boys are now
30, and who knows… my next role as Grandpa may begin sooner than I think.
