IN OUR TWILIGHT YEARS...

I often wonder, what will happen if one day I get really old, frail, sickly and helpless ('touchwood'). This came about after a charity visit to the Old Folks Home last Easter Day. Not that I haven't thought about it before. The visit just intensified it. I couldn't experienced taking care of my parents in such conditions as they were called by God too early in their lives.

So, say, God decided to let me stay longer on earth, will my children take care of me? Will they be too busy to care? But then again we can't impose on them as they will have families of their own. The fact that they once were helpless themselves as babies, we nurtured them, stayed up all night to look after them when they had the chicken pox or the fact that we'd rather didn't eat 'cos had to make that last dollar stretch till end of the month so as one can buy the milk for the baby. And there were years that we went without a new dress or any other luxuries 'cos we felt guilty spending the money as we'd rather we keep them for rainy days in case the baby got sick and had to bring them to the doctor and/or other necessities. That is how much parents love their children. During this time, when the child is young, the parent is strong, preeminent and due all respect.

Then the child grows up and becomes an adult and is expected that he or she must take the place of the parent and lead the family. So what will become of the parents? Will they still be accorded with the same respect when they were still young and able? Or will the children decide that the old, grumpy and wrinkled person who now hardly resemble their parents, be sent to the Old Folks Home?

Sad to say, but they are children who do this. Whatever happened to filial piety? But then again, what if the children are busy making something of themselves, to bring food to the table, to be in the rat race and they do not have the time or means to look after the parents? So, then wouldn't it be better to send their parents to the Old Folks Home, where they could be taken care of by trained minders, given proper food or medication? They would also be among friends and have something in common. But then again.....