Can we let go ? ( Part 2)

Living with your grown up kids is no longer the same as when they were your kids fully dependent on you and maybe thinking at that time that their parents were the greatest.Children when they were young looked up to their parents and were very obedient .I remember we had the house rule that all the girls must be back not later than midnight and they dutifully complied without any reservation and at times when they needed to stay out a little bit longer they asked and we usually complied.
We have tried to plant onto our children certain values and principles which we hope they would take with them throughout their lives.Happily we see that today all of them have held fast to these values and principles.They have grown up to be independent,dependable adults and more importantly steadfast and caring .It is so disappointing to see some young people who have no consideration for others and are so self centered that they cannot look beyond their own selfish needs.I remember in the early days no family could eat their meals if the head of the house was not back.Imagine if he were to come home late every night and keep the whole family waiting ? A real classic case of inconsideration ! Today fortunately families are more practical ,if the head comes back late he has to eat on his own as the others would probably have eaten as children cannot go hungry or eat late as they too have their own programs like homework ,tuition etc.
Though the children have grown up we see there is still a need for parents much as they would try to deny this.Parents are convenient.whom else can they trust with their children other than their own parents ? Who else cant they count on if they need to have a night out socializing with their friends?If the parents are able to cook so much the better because they know they can always come home to a hot meal,well prepared and to their taste.Parents have no qualms at all doing these things for the children because a parent's love for the children is boundless ,unselfish,and given without any reservation and expecting nothing in return.Parents are always unselfish when it comes to their children even though they are grown up and independent.We have read and head of parents using their bodies to shield their children in dangerous situations.Parents are prepared to even give up their lives for their children.There has never been any doubt on this.
Its sad that sometimes children who claim to be grown up forget some basic values which they learned from young. Simple things called GRATITUDE and APPRECIATION are often sadly forgotten.True,parents expect nothing in return, but surely a little bit of appreciation and gratitude for what they have done is not asking for too much?These things need not be in huge materialistic forms.Parents do not need expensive gifts as tokens of appreciation.A little word here and there is all it takes.Yet people find it so difficult to say such things and to make matters worse they are so downright inconsiderate to people who should mean so much to them.One cannot help but conclude that at times there are people with no character or standards.
Fact of the matter is that parents will always love and care for their children no matter what and children should never forget that parents as they grow older become more sensitive and insecure..and deserve to be treated with tender care too.