Gratitude?!

As kids, we never realized what all our parents had done for us. Once we leave the country and settle abroad, we slowly understand the value of being a parent. We then want to repay them for all that they have done. We want to make them happy!

We send them money and ask them to live in a big house. They too, oblige and buy a big house as an investment for us and start staying there. The actual complexities are unknown till they actually move in to that house!

We spend lot of money since parents are going to stay in that house and buy a duplex model house. There are 2 rooms in the ground floor, 3 in the first floor and a terrace with  a closed car parking. We have also covered the entire flooring in marbles. Wood work is done all over the house and everywhere there are wardrobes and cupboards. We buy LCD television sets (one per room), fully automatic washing machine, dish washer, microwave oven, vaccum cleaner, chimney in the modular kitchen, thinking that parents should not have any issues staying in the house. We also buy them king size bed, a sofa cum bed in the hall, a latest model laptop and a good car.

We view the house warming function via the webcam. Since this is our dream house, parents feel they have more responsibilities now. They feel they should keep it spic and span. We come over after they struggle and set up the entire house. They too are enthusiastic about staying with us in the new house and the new locality and once we board the flight back to our respective countries, they too come back to their routine.

Since they become aged now, they face the real challenges. Duplex house is good, but parents have knee pain now! Other health problems too crop up and it becomes really difficult to climb the stairs as frequently as before! Mom has now another role to play as a care taker and keep the place clean everywhere, even in the terrace. This compels her to climb the stairs in spite of her back pain and ensure that the terrace is kept clean. Even though domestic helpers do their job, parents are not satisfied by their quality of work.

Without having the heart to disappoint the children, they continue living in the house and undergo all this pain, silently.

Are we really paying gratitude to our parents or are we causing them more pain? 

Why is that living in big houses seen as a status symbol? For 2 people, why is such a big house necessary? Why don’t we think about the maintenance and other day to day difficulties when we buy big houses? For a matter of 21 days of stay in a year, why should parents stay in such a big house for all the year through?

Who can come and help them in case of any health problems? Though help is available to take care of old people, will they show their love and affection? They come and work only for the money they are paid. If we are dependent on the relatives, how long they can stay in someone else’s house?

For one wrong step taken, we have to continue taking steps to rectify this single step!

Is it not wise to stay in a compact house rather than a luxurious one? A single or double bedroom flat should be sufficient for 2 people with simple furniture.

What is more important is not how big the house is, but how easy it is to live in such houses on a day to day basis.