Parent's Wish

Thank you for the slideshow, it meant a lot to me... The timing was just right... Surely it must have come from above. Though no parent is perfect, we have what we have today because of what they have done...

Please forgive me if I haven't been patient enough...

Parent's Wish

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 cannot dress on our own
Please bear with us and remember the times we spent
Feeding you 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 the same story
A thousand and one times 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 of new technologies,
Help us navigate our way through those worldwide webs
We taught you how to do so many things,
To eat the right foods, to dress appropriately,
To fight for your rights.

When at some moments we lose our memory
Or the thread of our conversation
Let us have the necessary time to remember.
And if we cannot, 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 feel like eating,
Do not force us.
We know well when we need to
And when not to eat.

When our tired legs give way
Do not allow us to walk without a cane.
Lend us your hand
The same way we did
When you tried your first faltering steps.

And when someday we say to you
That we do not want to live anymore,
That we want to die,
Do not get angry
Someday you will understand.

Try to understand that our age
Is not just lived but survived.
Someday you will realize that
Despite our mistakes
We always wanted the best for you
And we tried to prepare the way for you.

You must not feel sad, angry nor ashamed
For having 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 live the rest of our life with love and dignity
We will pay you with a smile
And by the immense love
We have always had for you in our hearts.

We love you, child.

Mom and Dad