The General’s Greatest Gift – Cook Islands News

The former Cook Islands rugby star and grandfather of 11 reflects on his experiences as a father and husband, stressing the importance of love, support and equality in family relationships

George George, also known as “The General”, is regarded as one of the greatest Cook Islands rugby players of all time, with many achievements both on and off the field.

But the 67-year-old father of four and grandfather of 11 said the greatest gifts he has received in life are his children and grandchildren.

This year Father’s Day falls on Sunday, a reminder that he will continue to be blessed and have the opportunity to care for his grandchildren and children.

In an interview with Cook Islands News, George said having children was one of the best things in his life, but having grandchildren was even better.

He said he wanted to give his grandchildren more of the love he didn’t share with his children.

“I may have been stricter with my kids then, but I want them to know that I may not have given my remaining love to my kids, I gave it all to them,” George said.

“As a father, I think I am fair to my children and very protective of my grandchildren. I dote on my grandchildren much more than I do on my own children, and I think I am a father who learns a lot from my children because I am very strict with them.”

As an athlete, George hopes his children can inherit his career and become better.

But he couldn’t imagine doing that to his grandchildren.

“My grandchildren were born and I told them they could choose whatever they wanted to be, and I think I learned how to be a father from my children,” shared George, who is now the brand manager of CITC.

“I am very strict and hope that my children can get more. There are many conditions that I want to meet, but I don’t think my children are willing to do everything according to my ideas.”

George George spends quality time with his three grandchildren. Supplied / 24082805 / 24082717 / 24082720 / 24082723

When George had his first child in his 20s, he found it difficult to balance his athletic career and fatherhood, having to find a nanny or prioritize staying home as a father to his children.

However, he managed to overcome these challenges and achieve his sporting goals, becoming one of the greatest Cook Islands rugby players and endearing himself to future generations.

“Financially it was OK, but the biggest challenge in my life as a father was having to have a nanny to take care of my children because I was so into my career at the time. I think one of the biggest challenges for me was having my family take care of my children while I was away for my career, but I think that was a barrier for me and my wife,” George explained.

“I think I’ve achieved the highest level of my sporting career and now I want to be the best grandfather I can be and take care of my grandchildren and love them.

“With my kids, I was very resistant to snacks and things like that because I’m a health advocate and I would say no to certain things, but with my grandchildren, it’s a different story.”

George thanked his extended family for their support, especially his wife, whom he considered the family’s pillar of support.

He added that family was a big part of being a Cook Islands father growing up and said without the support of his family, his outcome would have been different.

When asked about his biggest lessons as a father and husband, George said it was to never hurt his wife and to be a great ambassador for his children to have a loving family.

“I never hit my wife, my children get hit occasionally but it’s also to teach them something and I think the balance here is that as a father and head of the family you have to keep your head clear and never hit your wife,” he advised.

“I laugh a lot with my wife, children and grandchildren, and I know exactly what happens if I get angry, I get up and walk away or drive somewhere else, and I make sure I don’t show it in front of my children, no matter how much they piss me off.”

George has a message for all fathers on Father’s Day: love and support your wife and avoid showing favoritism toward your children.

“Love your family, your wife, your children and your grandchildren, love them the same way,” he shared.

“I think you get into trouble when you’re overly doting on the other child, or you have a preference in some way, or you’re very likely to like one child and not the other as much. It causes problems for them because children have their own feelings, so it’s easy for them to see that you favor one child more and you don’t pay as much attention to the other as you do to the other. I think in that sense, as a father, you should express your love to your children completely equally. There shouldn’t be this kind of discrimination between your children.

“I think in the Cook Islands, the mother is always the backbone of the family. They do all the work and if we men need to show some love and a balanced lifestyle at home, then we should take on some of the housework.

“You don’t want your wife to cook and wash dishes…Show some support to your wife because I think that’s the way we were brought up. Today, we have equal rights and women know their place in the home.”

George is also the chairman of the Cook Islands Prostate Cancer Foundation and a men’s health advocate, encouraging men to exercise and participate in sports to improve their health.