27 Take Care of Your Parents

Most of the people in this world who have reached whatever position they are in right now, have reached there due to the hardship, love and affection shown by their parents.  Without these loving parents, it would have been a very difficult journey for them.  Now that the once-upon-a-time kids have become adults, it is imperative that their parents are shown the same courtesy, love and affection that their parents had bestowed upon them.

Most of the time the elder parents will not ask what they want.  It is upto the kids to know what they want (or somehow let the parents speak about their wishes) and fulfil their requirements.  The things would feel very small, but the satisfaction that it provides to the parents is enormous.  Taking care of these small things go a long way to ensure that the elder parents don’t feel alone in their old age and feel part of the family at all times.

The elder parents have not known any joy other than to ensure that their kids have a bright future.  They have over-worked themselves to make sure of this.  Now that the future has been set for the kids, these kids should make sure that their parents restart their joyful life from now onwards.  Don’t make them responsible for bringing up your kids.  In the current age of dual income families, it might be difficult to bring up the kids on your own in the beginning.  Your parents might also insist on being there for assisting your kids.  Make sure that this does not stretch for a longer time.   Their aim in life was to ensure you achieve success even though they would have toiled a lot for this.  Don’t make them repeat their same life for your kids.

Ensure that they have a separate room and not sharing the room with your kids.  Of course, if they insist that the kids sleep with them, then it is ok.  Let them say it without you pressurizing them on this.  Plan your trips for meeting relatives with them also in mind.  Also include them for all your outings or holiday trips.  After all, they are the still the Head of your family!! 

Let your kids mingle with them.  Don’t take that satisfaction away from them.  Kids learn a lot about manners from their grandparents.  Also, mostly, they get the grandparents in pairs!!  Each set of grandparents imbibe in the kids their own experiences and manners.  Be aware that your kid(s) are watching how you are treating your parents.  Tomorrow, when the role gets reversed, he/she is definitely more likely to follow your example of how you dealt with your parent than anything else.

Let them do whatever they could not do earlier, as they were ensuring a good life ahead for you.  Let them visit their relatives’ places and spend some time with their own siblings.  If you can afford, send them on flights and not on trains.  At their age, the less time they spend in constricted places, the more better they would be.  If they want to spend time with your siblings, let them go.  After all, your sibling also is their kid only.  And of course, send them only if they are interested.

Don’t force your ideas on them.  It’s after all their journey in this world.  You just ensure that they spend the rest of their lives with you in happiness. 

Happy real-family!! Cheers!!

Today’s daffy definition

Democracy – A device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.