Care from my parents which know no bounds
Every now and then, my mind would drift to recall on how my parents have raised me and my siblings right from our childhood to adulthood. Often, when I stumble upon the hardships of life, I would be reminded on how hard life was for my parents and that what I was going through is nothing as compared to what they experienced back then.
When my parents just got married, they do not have a property to call as their own home let alone having enough money to survive. As far as I recall, they started things off with merely renting a small room before they moved on to rent a flat unit, attained under the staff benefits provided by my mum’s employer. As she was encouraging me to get through the obstacles I faced at one moment in time, she relates to how she was nearly deprived of having the opportunity to rent the flat unit after much struggles and efforts made. As if things weren’t bad enough; when we finally get to stay in the flat, there were a lot of complications on the administration site governing the rental of the flat units. That nearly left us homeless.
It was definitely a new parenting experience for them with me being the firstborn child in the family. My parents sought the help of my late aunt to take care of me (Lord, bless her soul for I still remember how much she cares for me in spite of her much troubled life she faces at that time). After my aunt passed away, my late maternal grandma chipped in to help as a daytime nanny. It must have been hard for grandma to travel from her home to the flat, having going through 14 kilometres of journey by public bus everyday. She made all the efforts just so to reach me around 6.45 a.m. Both my parents have to work since there was no way they could support the household with only my dad bringing in income.
What I didn’t know as a child, was the obstacles my parents faced at work. Back home everyday, they would put on happy faces upon seeing me and my siblings…I couldn’t tell, though they had in fact gone through a lot of rough days.
I could sensed much anxiety and worries coming from my mum as she used to call back home every 2 hours or so, just to see if we kids are doing fine in spite knowing that we were under the care of our paternal grandma (who took over as nanny when she moved in with us).
During our primary school years; while me and my siblings were often still deep in sleep, my mum would have gotten up at 5 a.m. ahead of everyone else in the family everyday, in order just to prepare breakfast for us (not forgetting the medications for our nutritional needs too!). Whilst in my childhood, I had seen my mum rushing to my school for the times upon hearing news of either me or my siblings gotten hurt from a fall; this very much goes the same for other incidents as well. She did so, just to make sure that we were fine. I couldn’t help but imagine how hard it was for her to request for ‘time-off’ or emergency leave from her superiors, time and time again.
Both my parents continued just that…parenting in that fashion and style, from then to now - though they had been able to shed much burdens off their shoulders over the years, progressively attaining the luxury of not having to worry as much for us children.
Mum, I regard you as the true and real ‘superwoman’, a sight which never fails in me and my siblings’ perspective. Not forgetting you too, dad, thank you for all those years which you’ve spent to cater for us children. I have been thinking for a long time and up to now, I have not the slightest idea on how I could ever repay both of you, mum and dad.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Gary and Gideon, I thank you both so very much for all the tender loving care poured unto us. For those times where we have been insensitive to you folks, we ask for forgiveness and a chance for redemption. We love you both, always.
Every now and then, my mind would drift to recall on how my parents have raised me and my siblings right from our childhood to adulthood. Often, when I stumble upon the hardships of life, I would be reminded on how hard life was for my parents and that what I was going through is nothing as compared to what they experienced back then.
When my parents just got married, they do not have a property to call as their own home let alone having enough money to survive. As far as I recall, they started things off with merely renting a small room before they moved on to rent a flat unit, attained under the staff benefits provided by my mum’s employer. As she was encouraging me to get through the obstacles I faced at one moment in time, she relates to how she was nearly deprived of having the opportunity to rent the flat unit after much struggles and efforts made. As if things weren’t bad enough; when we finally get to stay in the flat, there were a lot of complications on the administration site governing the rental of the flat units. That nearly left us homeless.
It was definitely a new parenting experience for them with me being the firstborn child in the family. My parents sought the help of my late aunt to take care of me (Lord, bless her soul for I still remember how much she cares for me in spite of her much troubled life she faces at that time). After my aunt passed away, my late maternal grandma chipped in to help as a daytime nanny. It must have been hard for grandma to travel from her home to the flat, having going through 14 kilometres of journey by public bus everyday. She made all the efforts just so to reach me around 6.45 a.m. Both my parents have to work since there was no way they could support the household with only my dad bringing in income.
What I didn’t know as a child, was the obstacles my parents faced at work. Back home everyday, they would put on happy faces upon seeing me and my siblings…I couldn’t tell, though they had in fact gone through a lot of rough days.
I could sensed much anxiety and worries coming from my mum as she used to call back home every 2 hours or so, just to see if we kids are doing fine in spite knowing that we were under the care of our paternal grandma (who took over as nanny when she moved in with us).
During our primary school years; while me and my siblings were often still deep in sleep, my mum would have gotten up at 5 a.m. ahead of everyone else in the family everyday, in order just to prepare breakfast for us (not forgetting the medications for our nutritional needs too!). Whilst in my childhood, I had seen my mum rushing to my school for the times upon hearing news of either me or my siblings gotten hurt from a fall; this very much goes the same for other incidents as well. She did so, just to make sure that we were fine. I couldn’t help but imagine how hard it was for her to request for ‘time-off’ or emergency leave from her superiors, time and time again.
Both my parents continued just that…parenting in that fashion and style, from then to now - though they had been able to shed much burdens off their shoulders over the years, progressively attaining the luxury of not having to worry as much for us children.
Mum, I regard you as the true and real ‘superwoman’, a sight which never fails in me and my siblings’ perspective. Not forgetting you too, dad, thank you for all those years which you’ve spent to cater for us children. I have been thinking for a long time and up to now, I have not the slightest idea on how I could ever repay both of you, mum and dad.
From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of Gary and Gideon, I thank you both so very much for all the tender loving care poured unto us. For those times where we have been insensitive to you folks, we ask for forgiveness and a chance for redemption. We love you both, always.
Sam Yoong
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3 comments:
Dude, how did you get my G-Smart e-mail address?
hi daniel, apologies...i just forwarded the link to everyone in my contact list. Din know you were in there.
you might not remember me, but i was one of the candidate for the web content trainee post.
Yea, albert, without our parents, we wouldn't be here, unless we're talkin' about foster homes for the less fortunate ones.
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