We are fortunate to watch our children growing up and bringing up their own families.As parents we have always wanted the best for our children,in terms of education,health,values and a life of their own in time to come.We are happy that our kids have found their spouses and have children of their own.Its good to see them play their roles as spouses and parents and on looking back we realize that the way they do this is quite different from the way we played ours but then times are no longer the same.
Being able to see this transformation is special and we too have to fathom how we are to play our roles as parents ,in laws ,and grandparents.The guiding principle which we always have to keep in mind is that the kids are now grown up and its no secret that they think they are smarter than us but little do they realize that we also play the smart game by being there for them always and subtly guiding them in an inoffensive way.
As one generation grows ,sadly the other slowly starts to fade away.We have lost a number of our contemporaries and its painful to see some of them staring to fade away.The ravages of time and disease are slowing taking its toll.All the hardships which we went through in our younger days bringing up a family are slowing taking its toll.Fatigue,sickness ,physical wear and tear starts to take its toll and those of us who for the time being are free from all these can only look in pain at what our contemporaries are going though knowing that our turn will come inevitably.
We have to be grateful for what we have now and try to make the best use of the time left to us.Sometimes when we talk of our grandchildren going to school or college we look hard at them and a silent tear falls as we realize how difficult it will be for us to live to see that day!But life will go on ,they will have their parents to share this with them just like our children had us to share their special moments with them.
We are proud to be able to bring up our girls as best as we could and up till today a lot of my friends still say its a wonder with our paltry salaries as govt. servants we were able to provide all our children with a university education.It was tough but mum and I are tough people and somehow we managed and today we can look back with pride and satisfaction to see our children successful and more importantly having a life of their own.
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it would be a miracle if we could even achieve half of what you and mom have. :D and we don't think we're smarter.. we're just aspiring to be as smart as you and mom were..
ReplyDeleteimn
Hi Mr Toh,
ReplyDeleteChance upon your blog whilst blog hopping . Love your wisdom. Life has got to go on isn't it and whilst we are still able we must enjoy it , be it travelling , playing our favourite sport , community work and the list may go on depending on our physical abilities. And more blessed are those who have the opportunity to enjoy their grandchildren in their different stages of development.
And by the way Mr Toh , is the mum you mentioned here happens to be Tan Chai May? If she is , then , she was my classmate whilst we were students in the T. Anson ( as T. Intan was known then ). I know she married a school teacher from the St Anthony school who later also left T. Anson town . Infact we both did our temporary teaching in the St. Anthony's Primary School! We lost touch soon after that as we both went our way to pursue our career. Would dearly love to catch up with her if she is the Chai May that I know. Btw., I am Koh Seok Hooi if Chai May wonders who I am. Am now residing in Melbourne, Australia and have been here for the last 21 years! Keeping fingers crossed to get a favourable reply from you and
Cheers and a good day to you!