My EveRy PaREnTS' WisHes...

To our dear child,

On the day when you see us old, weak and weary,

Have patience and try to understand us.

If we get dirty when eating,

If we can not dress on our own,

Please bear with us and remember the times

We spent feeding and dressing you up.

If, when we speak to you,

We repeat the same things over and over again,

Do not interrupt us.

Listen to us.

When you were small,

We had to read to you thousand and one times

The same story until you went to sleep.

When we do not want to have a shower,

Neither shame nor scold us.

Remember when we had to chase you

With your thousand excuses to get you to the shower.

When you see our ignorance on new technologies,

Help us navigate our way through those world wide webs.

We taught you how to do so many things,

To eat the right foods, to dress appropriately,

To fight for your rights.

Then at some moment we lose the memory

Or the thread of our conversation,

Let us have the necessary time to remember.

And if we can not, do not become nervous,

As the most important thing is not our conversation,

But surely to be with you and to have you listening to us.

If ever we do not want to eat, do not force us.

We know well when we need to and when not to.

When our tired legs give way

And do not allow us to walk without a cane,

Lend us your hand.

The same way we did,

you first tried your faltering steps.

And when someday we say to you,

That we do not want to live any more.

That we want to die!

Do not get angry.

Some day you will understand.

Try to understand that our age is not lived but survived.

Some day you will realize that, despite our mistakes,

We always wanted the best thing for you

And we tried to prepare the way for you.

You must not feel sad, angry nor ashamed

For seeing us near you.

Instead, try to understand us and help us

Like we did when you were young.

Help us to walk.

Help us to end our way with love and dignity.

We will pay you by a smile and by the immense love

We have always had for you in our heart.

We love you child,

Mom and Dad

p/s - I would not be where I am today had it not been for my parents. There were times during my younger days where I couldn't understand what my parents meant by "We are doing this for your own good" and they couldn't understand why I adamantly refused their hard-won wisdom. Being a parent my self now helps me understand and appreciate better all the efforts my parents put in for me. Thank you mom & dad!