Madam – On behalf of all our senior citizens, I would like to submit my mother’s letter that was written by her at the age of 86 in 2013. Sadly, she passed away just over a month ago.
Maybe some of us will see the value of our aged folk, and create a special space for them in our hearts and lives.
Abridged copy – 14 August 2013
On the day you see me old, weak and weary, please have patience and do try to understand us. If we get dirty when eating and if we cannot dress on our own, please bear with us and remember the times we spent feeding you, and dressing you up.
When speaking to you we repeat some 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 us nor scold us. Remember when we had to chase you with your thousand excuses to get you to shower. When you see our ignorance of new technology, help us to navigate our way through the world wide webs.
We taught you how to do many things like how to eat the right foods, dress appropriately and to fight for your rights. When at one moment we lose the memory or thread of our conversation, let us have the necessary time to remember and if we cannot, do not become nervous and angry.
As the most important thing is not our conversation but simply to be with you and you listening to us. If ever we do not feel like eating, do not force us, we know well when we need to and not to eat. When our tired legs give way to just allow us to walk with a cane, lend us a helping hand the same way we did when you tried your first faltering steps. And when someday we tell you that we don’t want to live anymore, that we want to die do not get angry because one day you will understand.
Try to appreciate that our age is not lived but survived. Someday you will realise 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 be ashamed to have me next to you instead try to understand try to help 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.
Children, grandchildren, great grandchildren. Understand your parents.
By: Dhanwanthie Seegobin (late)
Submitted by: Shanitha (Daughter)
