Time To Parent Your Parent

Where do I begin? I didn’t know until last morning that this would be my subject matter of discussion. A small emergency in your family, and it’s as if somebody wakes you up from deep slumber.

Yes slumber. Cos that’s the state you are in if something’s right in front of you, but you’ve been too occupied to realise it.

We tend to feel that old people being moved to old age homes are the only ones who are in need of our service. But the truth is, old people in our own homes, be it grandparents or parents, each one of them needs attention once they cross a particular age.  

As we move from one decade to another, we are getting more educated and more exposed, more tech-savvy and more advanced. But thats also making us busier and self-centred. I don’t really mean selfish. We may have noble intentions and we may be good at heart. But in this race that life has become today, in our hurry to reach our destination, we are missing very important facets of the journey. And one such utmost important aspect is finding time for your own parents. Spending time with them is very important, yes. But being around them and for them is all the more essential.

In a developing country like India, many men and women who turned proud parents in the 70s and 80s are living all by themselves, in the sunset phase of their life. This generation especially was one which never really did anything for themselves. They spent a major part of their lives obeying their parents and are spending the rest listening to their children. They spent their whole life tending to their previous gen and providing for their next gen. They toiled hard night and day, and made their children capable of reaching great heights. They carved the way for their children’s bright future and better lifestyle, while sacrificing their own dreams and aspirations. Today, every child of this generation is well-educated and well-off.

The children wanted to fly so they gave them wings. But once the little one flew away from the nest, the parent was left behind all alone. The child got busy, with his life, his dreams, maybe also his children. Oh no, this child is not a bad one either. He loves his parents, misses them, looks out for them, but from a distance. Career or spouse. Reasons may vary, but the outcome is the same. Lonely parents.

Our parents, who held our fingers and taught us how to walk. Our parents who taught us how to talk. Our parents, who stayed up all night taking care of us when we were sick. Our parents who for our smile, came up with every trick.

At an age, where they are tired and truly exhausted, due to all the hard work they’ve put in for their family all their life, all they need is a hand. They need us, our presence and our support.

All of us want happiness for our parents. All of us mean well. It’s just that we tend to forget, that their biggest source of happiness is us. And however much they may want us around, they love us too much to confess it. So friends, as you pave your way forward in this world, be sure to look back and hold hands of the ones who brought you here in the first place.

It is time indeed to parent your parent.

PS. Happy Teachers’ Day to my parents. And to yours. They are the first ever and the best teachers that life could ever give anybody.