As We get older, We become wiser and the elderly do realize soon that happiness is not how much money you make, how big is your home or how luxurious your car is, it's all about finding peace, joy and calmness. Family is what that matters to one; the time, memories and the nostalgic moments that one lives with. Our worth is measured by the number of people we have earned in our lifetime, who can stand by you, and be there to take care of you whenever needed.
The elderly become quite, humbled with life, at the same time unimpressed with many things around.
Life, lifestyle has indeed changed from their days, we can never be as disciplined and principled as our parents/elders.
Though the generation gap is obvious and the primary cause of discontent between the generation, it's how both of us understand each other's thought process and comfort each other.
It is said that parents become a child and act like one as they get old, with rigidity in the way they have to be taken care of, or the way things will have to be around.
Well, if they become child, shouldn't the role reverse and we also care for them and behave like parents?
Graceful ageing is when the elders show maturity and understand the modern day problems, and responsible parenting (role reversed) is when we understand their mindset, their inability to accept our ways.
Without getting into specifics, without finding excuses, a healthy elderly care is seen when both meet mid way.
We can never match their patience, dedication and duty bound when it comes to taking care of someone. We probably can never show such love, care and pure affection they showed while raising us.
But we do genuinely feel for them, care for them, compassionate towards them and with all humility we want to take care of them, be by their side when they need to be taken care of.
We will never be able to repay them for their sacrifices, compromises they made in raising us, but least we can do is taking care of them when their body ages and they become weak.
We all have genuine intention in fulfilling our duty to take care of them; each of us might have different ways and means to take care of them, either directly or indirectly. They have to just let us take care of them, whichever way we think and feel is in their best interest.
The way the parents/elders raised us, loved us and were dutiful, it is now their duty to let us carry out our duty to take care of them.
It is not a humiliation, helplessness, embarrassing, miserable to be taken care by someone...but they will be embarrassing us by denying us our right, duty to take care of them.
It is a humble appeal to all sexa/septua/octo/nona..genarians to allow us to take care of you. Not necessarily only by your son; depending on the situation / scenario, it can be your daughter, brother, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, son-in-law or whoever considers it a duty to care for you and take care of your needs when you need it the most.
It is the nature's way that one gets old, one becomes weak. You need not feel bad for it, sad to be dependant. We have been dependent on you for atleast 25 of our lives, it is absolutely fine to be dependent on us atleast when you need care. Taking care of elders can never be a burden, it is just that some of us might have limitations and commitments, yet We find ways to provide you care.
