If You Live to 100, You Might as Well Be Happy by Rhee Kun Hoo

Author:Rhee Kun Hoo [Kun Hoo, Rhee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529915853
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Published: 2024-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

6

Bridge the Generation Gap

WHEN THEY WERE LITTLE, my grandchildren sometimes refused to go to nursery. Having to get to work themselves, their parents – my children – fussed over them and always found some ways to coax them into the car. On a day like that, I saw my grandchildren making faces that seemed to be saying they’re complying just this time, but begrudgingly, and only out of love. But my busy, tired children didn’t always seem to catch those looks, those silent signals my grandchildren were sending. They probably didn’t have the experience or luxury of time to sit down and talk through what was going on inside the little heads of their own children.

It was no different for me and my wife. We were always amateur parents, even with four kids, since each required different parenting skills. What’s worse, my wife and I were both working parents and had little time to spend with them. Time flew past us, year after flitting year, and I still can’t figure out where all those years went. When our kids were all grown up and we had a little more time on our hands, we finally had a chance to look back and realised what rookie mistakes we’d made over the years. But regret couldn’t have changed anything by that point, our hair already salt and pepper.

But fortunately, as a grandparent, I had the experience to be able to tell when my grandchildren were having a tough time. Whenever my wife and I felt their refusal to go to nursery was more than a mere tantrum, we stepped in. And my grandchildren always had good reasons when we asked why. On such a day, we would take our grandchildren out on a little field trip of our own, hand in hand, listening to them. After an excursion like that, they no longer seemed so on edge.

A while ago, my eldest grandson got married. Yes, the very first boy who graced me with the beloved title of Grandpa! It feels like it was just yesterday that I stood holding him in my arms for the first time, my chest swelling with all the love I felt for him, but that little baby grew up so fast and was now starting his own family! When he first came over to introduce his wife, I was so happy that I felt as if I could fly through the sky. You see, when my own children settled down and got married, I was worried sick for them and couldn’t relax enough to be happy, but with my grandchildren, it was pure awe and joy.

Really, the joy my grandchildren brought into my life is beyond words. More than anything, it’s because I finally learned the joy of parenting when I was helping to raise my grandchildren. I still feel sorry for my wife and children over all those years back when my children were growing up and I didn’t do the best job of providing for

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.