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…
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 -
