Model Peter Davis on being a father: 'You end up losing certain fears'

Peter Davis – with his sons Preston and Parker – says that fatherhood has changed his priorities in life. Photo: Peter Davis

Model Peter Davis treats his children as friends. The 38-year-old says that he sees it as a way of strengthening the father-son relationship. He has two boys, Preston and Parker, age nine and five respectively.

“It relaxes some parts of the relationship, strengthens bonds but just like any relationship, it gets tested. It’s a relationship that needs patience, years of it. It has taught me to manage my expectations, ” he points out.

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Davis admits that fatherhood has definitely changed him and the way he sees life. According to him, the priorities he holds dear are very much different compared to before he had Preston and Parker.

He explains: “You also find you need to make time for yourself in a way that you never had to do before. You grow up, mature – as you have more responsibility, and you end up losing certain fears.”

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Davis was born to a Malaysian mother of Sabahan Chinese ancestry and British father. While he grew up in Britain, he is now based in Kuala Lumpur. Apart from being a model, he is also an actor and a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter.

In 2008, critically-acclaimed Malaysian director Yeo Joon Han spotted him while he was fixing his car and offered him his first movie role, Sell Out!, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.

Davis is a health and fitness enthusiast as well. He took up MMA in 2012 and he frequently joined championships. He is also extremely passionate about cycling and can be seen posting about his rides on Instagram.

Read more: MMA fighter Peter Davis believes anyone can cycle

“I don’t think I have directly inspired my kids’ ideas for a career... They are still clueless and carefree, and very young. I do try and inspire them to be better people, do bigger things, ” he notes, about how he sees his role as a father.

He does not necessarily think that he is a strict father, or a very relaxed one. His parenting style can change according to different situations.

Davis says he indeed believes that having a father figure in one’s life is important. It is for this very reason that he cherishes the strong bond he shares with his two sons.

“It’s someone you can ask for advice, an opinion, guidance. As a male, it’s good to be able to ask another male, unrestrained to a point, about a whole host of subjects... Someone close who actually cares.”