Return to the sound of silence

Former generation parents believe they experience the empty nest syndrome only with their children. Not so.

What about grandchildren? Given the political shenanigans of a corrupt and inept government, and the iniquitous and impractical affirmative action ruling, too many of today’s parents are forced to seek paying pastures abroad. In most cases they don’t really want to leave what is a beautiful country with its intriguing population mix and magnificent weather and picturesque settings. But to put food on the table they have to take the awesome step of emigrating to countries they might likely come to hate.

This is happening all the time, with thousands of qualified people opting out. Accompanied by their children, naturally.

Here’s the rub. Grandparents in most cases are unable to uproot.

So enter the empty nest syndrome. No more visits to oupa and ouma to be spoilt rotten. No more sounds of childlike laughter. No more pranks played on gramps while he snores away in front of the television. No more cricket matches in the backyard, with oupa, who fancied himself a good player in his time, acting as head coach.

No more watching and helping ouma in the kitchen while she cooks and bakes up a storm.

And no more outings to the movies, sitting huddled with gramps and nana, sharing popcorn and coke while watching animated 3D horrors.

And gone are the days of going down to the seaside, building castles in the sand, and romping in the waves with the youngsters. The kids represented life which they shared with their grandparents.

Homes, once turned upside down with the children’s noisy activity and messy creativity, are now silent tombs. Bedrooms that before reverberated with shrieks of laughter during pillow fights and other physical confrontations, are now empty and quiet. Not a nice place to be in the last days of life.

And it could have been so different had South Africa’s new political dispensation not been turned into a nightmare of greedy and power hungry leaders intent on feathering their own nests. All this at the expense of losing a professional work force that could have helped put this country on the road to prosperity for all its peoples.

And leaving grandparents with an empty nest for the second time. Given their age, it feels much worse than that first time.

How sad and damn cruel.

TAKING A BREAK: This is my last column for a while. Will be back – if the editor allows it. Ciao!

cliffb@telkomsa.net

www.cliffsclout.wordpress.com