My mother's passing at 93 brought me closer to my young family

Working in finance, the year has been turbulent, but I now prioritise my daughters' bedtime. Amma would be smiling.

- Vasu Menon

In June, Amma, as my 93-year-old mother was affectionately called, passed on peacefully.

It was sudden but not unexpected, given her age. But it is never easy losing a parent, no matter how old they are.

I was a caregiver to Amma for decades and was very close to her. In her later years, all aspects of her life required my help - from taking care of her multiple healthcare needs to solving her StarHub cable TV issues whenever the Malayalam language channel Asianet was disrupted and changing new notes for her when annual Malayalee festivals such as Onam and Vishu came around.

I grieved Amma's passing deeply. But alongside that grief, I also experienced joy in many surprising ways.

One was that her passing became a long overdue reminder of my own mortality and the importance of enjoying and appreciating my family in the present.

I am not your typical father. I got married late in life at 50 and had my first child at 52 and the second at 54. Today I am 62 and the proud father of two wonderful girls aged eight and 10.

I work as an investment strategist. It is easy to become hyperfocused on the figures changing in front of you and forget about the people standing by your side.

Amma's passing was my wake-up call. I began to pay attention when my girls said they do not like President Donald Trump, complaining that the US leader is the reason Papa cannot put them to bed.