Dear Son, Dear Daughter

As you read, you may share what I felt.
I was a daughter who didn't have much patience
who didn't make an effort to understand my parents more
I left them alone when they needed me most...

the latest post at my buddy's blog
http://ncy.blogspot.com
prompted me to share this extract
from a powerpoint slides received from another friend.


dear son, dear daughter

the day when you find that I became very old,
try to be patient with me and try to understand me

If I get dirty by eating, if I have some difficulties in dressing...be patient!
Remember the hours that I spent to teach you any sort of things when you were small

If I repeat the same thing, dozen of times,
do not interrupt me, listen to me
when you were small, you kept asking me to read you the same story,
evening after evening, until you fell asleep. And I made it

If I do not wash myself any more so often under the shower,
do not reprimand and do not tell me that it is a shame
Remember how many excuses I have to give to make you take bath when you were small

By seeing my ignorance toward the new technologies,
please do not laugh at me. instead give me time to understand.
I taught you so many things indeed...to eat well, dress well, behave well and how to confront problems in life.

If I sometimes miss memories or do not follow conversation,
leave me the neccessary time to recollect.
If I do not reach there, do not become a nervous or arrogant person,
because the most imortant thing for me is to be with you
and to be able to speak to you

If I refuse to eat, do not force myself
because I know when I'm hungry or not hungry

When my poor legs will not allow me to move as before,
help me in the same way as I held your hands
to let you learn to make your first steps

And when one day, when I shall say to you that I do not want to live anymore,
that I want to die, do not get angry,
because one day, you'll also understand
that at certain age, we do not really live anymore
we simply survive

One day, you'll understand that in spite of all my errors.
I always wanted what was best for you,
I've prepared you the ground for when you've grown up

You do not have to feel sad, unfortunate and incompetent due to my old age and state,
you have to stay near me, try to understand what I live,
to do your best, as I did at your birth
help me to walk, help me to end my life with patience and love

The only thing I need
is a smile and lots of love from you