Dealing with emotional tug-of-war

The modern scenario is that of parents living in the hometown, some looking after grandchildren, while their adult children make a living somewhere else.

Where it involves just two hours’ drive, parents are likely to look up their children every few weeks. When asked why they do not return often, their reply goes, ‘well since you come so often to see us, there is no need for us to go back.’

Recently, there was a heart-warming article about how the 76-year old father delays his daughter’s return by washing her car! I know what it was like as I used to leave my mother in KL to return to my own family in Batu Gajah for the weekend. It was an emotional tug-of-war at both ends.

Very often, complaint of illness is used to elicit some sympathy from the children, hoping that they will return often to see them. But the following tale going round the net is quite novel:

An elderly man in Mumbai calls his son in New York and said

'I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage... and that much misery is enough!'

'Dad, what are you talking about?' the son screams.

'We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the old man says.

'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!'

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

'Like heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this.'

She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man, 'You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow.

Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR??' and she hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay', he says,

'It's all set. They're both coming for Diwali and paying their own airfare!!'

MORAL:
No man / woman is busy in this world all 365 days.
The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days LEAVE and meet your dear ones.
OFFICE WORK IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE and MONEY MAKING IS NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE. AFTER ALL WE WORK FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM.