Of Coca-Cola,7up and F&N Orange
The matriach of the family is 70 plus and a loving soul. The old lady lives alone and welcomes the occasional family gatherings. The grandchildrens’ pockets would be stuffed with sweets and chocolates and all kinds of tit-bits she has lovingly bought weeks in advance.
So one day, the daughter in law confronted the mother in law in a gentle manner. “These food are junk food. The children are fat enough. Please do not feed them any more with this junk food. The children’s health will be affected. And no more soft drinks for them!”
“You married my son. Has he ever been sick? I raised him without any problems. You young people think you know everything. I never give them Coca-Cola . It has so much coloring. I never give them Sarsi or all the drinks with coloring. I give them F&N orange. I been taking oranges since I have been a little girl. I give them 7up which is colorless”, the mother-in-law said.
“You have a little education and think you know it all. How many hours a day do you spend with your children? You are always busy at work or with your club activities. Are the children close to you? My children were very close to me. Look at me today. Where will you be when you are my age? The children barely know you.”
That shook the daughter in law. It is true that for many of us we never think about how our children will treat us other than vague retirement plans and savings. The children are an investment for the future. It is not just about money. It is about having something to live for, for posterity and to fill up the time when even a trip to pay a telephone bill is looked forward to as an excuse to leave the house.
Misguided the matriach may be about diet, but she has a sobering message for us all.
Good post. Times have changed I guess. I got a feeling that most babies today are unplanned by couples who didn’t know it could lead to parenting, or that parenting could be this much hassle. So these people invent a workaround by creating surrogate mothers (indon maids) so they can avoid the hassle. If they have no other choice, they revert to advise from books and TV, like rearing fish, because they’ve managed to piss off everyone else who wanted to help them before. Thats my two cents anyway, I could be wrong.
BB: Thanks at least now I know someone appreciates my work :). I heard it from the daughter in law this morning the above story I mean.
Wow, how true that people don’t spend enough quality time with family nowadays. I guess it’s a price to pay for living in an ‘advanced’ and ‘modern’ lifestyle.