Bangkok Post, Thailand, Guest Column.

Byline: Dr Suvarn Valaisathien

Aug. 5--When I was small, my mum told me that only a perfect mould produces a fine piece of product. She meant that for a child to grow up a good citizen, he or she has to come from an honest and decent family. It is necessary for mum and dad to teach their children to work hard, be honest and kind to people and that it is the way we bring up our two sons.

Although we have been relatively well off since 1985, we never spoil our children. We teach them to be careful about their money and that good luck comes only once while bad luck can come twice or thrice.

I kept my sons in Thai schools, watched them grow and monitored their behaviour. It is a privilege to kiss and hug your kids every day. When they were 15 and became adolescents, our relationships started to sour. They wanted to try everything, including some things with which we did not quite agree.

Therefore, I spent a lot of time praying and coaching them to stay ...