Pay Back

            Whatever happens in life, we can rely on our parents, ever! Even if all doors close, we have one door open for us, anytime and it’s the door of our parent’s house. This adds more meaning to a girl.

When there were issues with friends at school, there was mom to rectify, when there were some problems at college, at work place, at hostel, etc, mom and dad were all ears and those leaning shoulders made life easy. When she was a girl, she was mentally prepared by everyone around her that one day she has to get married. So, she had to give up her toys, her room, the joy that room gave her, her things and every girl leaves ‘her’ home with a heavy heart.

          When there are issues in married life, some misunderstandings with spouse, her in-laws, and mom was that expert adviser to tell her how to deal with it. For some, life is ever testing! Married life is never smooth and when unsolvable issues come up, when she is depressed with life, life becomes worth living for those two people, who were always with her. As everything is changing, even parent’s mindset is changed. They do NOT want their daughter to suffer mentally or physically and endure the pain, but they want her to live happily, even if that means, breaking the marriage! They are prepared to welcome her back into their home!

          Parents take their children’s problems as theirs and search for a solution. Even at the age of 30, when I was traveling alone, dad had come to send me off at the railway station. In the train, he told an elderly person who was in the near-by seat, just that I am traveling alone! Though I felt bad that dad is treating me as a kid, I could understand his anxiety! Same thing, when mom called up to say bye, she was suggesting dad to tell someone there that am traveling alone! Made for each other!! May be I will understand it better when I become a mother.

          After thinking for a while, I feel girls don’t get a chance to return the efforts of her parents. Once married, she becomes very busy, in her own world. Work, family and kids consume her time and she gets exhausted. When some problem arises, the first person to call up is a parent but when she’s very happy, she misses to inform them! Not that, they are going to do something, but they would definitely feel very happy for her.

          Even if we get busy 24/7/365, we should find some pay back time. We get small opportunities to do something in return for them, so better not miss it! Some instances are booking AC tickets during train travel or package tours or movie tickets with snacks, order in a big family pack ice cream, etc... We do have online payments now and so we can surprise them in many ways! Even if we are not able to do financially, we can physically surprise them by cooking their favorite dishes and turning up on their special days or just cook some exotic dishes at home and knock at their door! Do we need a reason to go to our parents’ house? We just need time! I still remember knocking at my parents place once, at 11 in the night! We can help them in cleaning the house, in discarding things, accompanying their shopping, etc... It will recharge our dried up batteries too!

          I have always envied boys, who get the opportunity to be with parents, all through their lives, but many don’t understand the value of it. May be physical distance makes us get closer to each other!  I like this quote - "A Daughter is a Little Girl who grows up to be a Friend"

          Even if you are in your 50’s, you are still their child! So, take a break and spend sometime with them.