A Slice of Life presents Letters from Grandma and Grandpa
Credit to 'Eugene Loh, A Slice of Life, 938LIVE, a station of MediaCorp Radio'.
Most parents genuinely want the best for their children, and will provide for them as best they can. But children may not always understand their parents' difficulties. The reasons behind the parents' actions may not always be evident to the children, and may not be easy to convey.
Ho Meng Jang wants his grandchildren to be grateful for what their parents give them. In a letter to Ryan, Rodrique, Freya and Hana, he relates a story about his friend. He writes?
"Grandpa has a friend who has three children, two sons and a daughter. After giving birth to the last child, his wife became very sick. My friend then became the sole bread-winner. Because his income was small, he had to spend very frugally. To his children though, he appeared very stingy and mean.
Children do not always understand the reasons for doing things. They only know the things you do or do not do. You care or do not care. You love or do not love.
When his children were about to complete school, his wife passed away. He spent the life insurance money on his second son's university education. His daughter, the eldest, was unhappy that she was not given priority.
My friend explained, "We have money only for one. Let your brother go. He's a boy. He will need the education to get a good job and provide for this family. You are a girl. Your husband will take care of you. This is our tradition."
My friend felt very hurt saying that. But he felt he had no other choice. Later, he gave his third son his CPF savings to finance his university education. To him, he has done all he can as a father. But what he failed to realize was that in his preoccupation to provide for his sons' education, he had overlooked teaching them the value of sharing and of being grateful for what they received.
His sons became very wealthy and successful but did not take care of my aging friend. He lived alone until his daughter took him in. He felt saddened that he had not given her as much financial support as he did his sons.
So, Ryan, Rodrique, Freya and Hana, if there's one thing you must learn, it's to be grateful for what your parents can give you. Be grateful for what you have."
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10:40 AM