Are We Done?

As previously mentioned, life is a cycle. From babyhood to childhood to adolescence;we continue to develop and grow into young adults. Work, courtship, marriage, bringing up babies, educating them until they become independent young adults who then continue the cycle as we have done.

Once the youngest child leaves the home to build his own, are we as parents done? Have we discharged our responsibilities once he or she leaves home to get married?

Or is it only the beginning of another stage?

I guess it depends on individual parents. There are those who feel happy that their children are off their hands, so to speak, no more a financial responsibility and there is someone else who will look after them, either husbands or wives.

There are others who still feel they have to help out when the babies come along. Some friends have said that being grandparents is wonderful because you get to play with the babies and then hand them back when they get too much to handle.

Yet there are folks whose children treat them as unpaid help and make them look after the babies, plus the housework as well. They drop their young children at their parents' place and do not pick them up until late at night, and this is for everyday of the week! Not even the weekends are free as they themselves want to relax after working during the week. For goodness sake! What do they take their parents for? Why have babies if they don't want to look after them? These babies are their responsiblity, not their parents'.


Surely their parents have done more than enough for them? Aren't they entitled to a life of their own, to relax and enjoy whatever years they have left of their lives?

To all grandparents, if you ever feel that you are being imposed upon by your children, it is time you stand up for yourself. Make it clear that your responsibilities are done, and that you can help out in emergencies but in no way are you going to be full-time nannies a second time round.
It's time to be selfish and to live for yourselves for you do not know how many more tomorrows you have. You need to live each day as if it is your last.
Cheers!

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