PARENT'S WISH

Dedicated to our beloved children Huda, Nadiah, Fathiah, Aisyah and Ghazi...

PARENT’S WISH

To our dear children,

On the day when you see us old, weak and weary…

Have patience and try to understand us…

If we get dirty when eating…

If we cannot dress on our own…

Please bear with us and

Remember the times we spent

Feeding you and dressing you up.

If, when we speak to you,

We repeat the same things over and over again…

Do not interrupt us…

Listen to us.

When you were small, we had to read to you

The same story a thousand and one times

Until you went to sleep.

When we do not want to have a shower ,

Neither shame nor scold us…

Remember when we had to chase you

With your thousand excuses

To get you to the shower?

When you see our ignorance of new technologies…

Help us navigate our way

Through those worldwide webs.

We taught you how to do so many things…

To eat the right foods,

To eat appropriately,

To fight for your rights…

When at some moments we lose the memory or

The thread of our conversation…

Let us have the necessary time to remember…

And if we cannot,

Do not become nervous…

As the most important thing is not our conversation

But surely to be with you

And to have you listening to us…

If ever we do not feel like eating,

Do not force us.

We know well when we need to and when not to eat.

When our tired legs give way

And do not allow us to walk without a cane,

Lend us your hand.

The same way we did

When you tried your first faltering steps.

And when someday we say to you

That we do not want to live any more,

That we want to die.

Do not get angry.

Some day you will understand.

Try to understand that our age

Is not just lived but survived.

Some day you realize that,

Despite our mistakes,

We always wanted the best for you

And we tried to prepare the way for you.

You must not feel sad, angry nor ashamed

For having us near you.

Instead try to understand us and help us

Like we did when you were young.

Help us to walk…

Help us to live the rest of our life with love and dignity.

We will pay you with a smile and by the immense love

We have always had for you in our hearts.

We love you, children...

- AYAH DAN IBU -