Yesterday, I overheard two elderly people chatting at a street corner. One of them asked the other, “Don’t you have a retirement pension?”
The elderly person replied, “No.”
The other asked, “Are you from the countryside?”
The elderly person said, “Yes, I came to take care of my grandson when my daughter-in-law gave birth. Now that my grandson is in middle school, I’m not needed anymore. I’ve become a useless person in the eyes of my daughter-in-law. She’s been hinting that I should go back to my hometown, but my old home is in shambles, and I’m not capable of farming anymore. My daughter-in-law thinks I’m a burden, and I feel like I’m in a dilemma.”
Listening to the elderly person’s words, I felt a pang in my heart. It’s heartbreaking to think that many elderly people like them are not being treated with the respect they deserve.
There’s an 80-year-old grandma living next door. Despite her age, she’s still energetic and can do farm work. She raised four children, and they all turned out well. You’d think she’s one of the happiest elderly people, but surprisingly, she’s living alone with no one to take care of her.
The reason is that she has some flaws in her handling of relationships. This grandma is a remarried widow who brought a son from her previous marriage. She’s always been more affectionate towards this son, which made her other children feel neglected. After her youngest son got married, she would often interfere with his marriage, causing conflicts between the couple. Eventually, her daughter-in-law couldn’t take it anymore and left, and the grandma was left alone.
Mrs. Lin is a kind and gentle grandma who has dedicated her life to her family. After her husband passed away, she was left alone. Her son and daughter-in-law asked her to live with them, but she feels useless and in the way. She wants to go back to her own home, but her daughter-in-law wants her to sell the house and use the money to buy a new one for her grandson. Mrs. Lin is torn between her desire for independence and her fear of being a burden to her family.
As I look back on her life, I realize that she’s always lived for others, but now that she’s old, she can’t even live for herself. It’s said that family members are like one’s own flesh and blood, but sometimes they can be more hurtful than strangers. The elderly are often ignored and disrespected, and their hearts are filled with sadness and despair. They want to change their situation, but they’re powerless to do so. They want to receive some warmth and care, but they’re afraid of being a burden to their children.