As a kid, I was always jealous of my fellow kids who used to stay in a joint family. For me, joint family is like a dream…so many people at home, grandparents stay along with you. This thought used to drive me crazy…how lucky is a kid staying with grandparents. GRANDPARENTS - who pampers you a lot, tell you so many stories, always take your side when mummy-papa shouts at you, get you so many things to eat… all fantasies in childhood will be fulfilled if you get to stay with your grandparents. I only got summer holidays to enjoy with them.
After 23 years, now that my dream is coming true…but of course the reason why my grandparents are staying with us is very sad…I don’t understand what God really plans for everyone’s life. Due to sudden demise of my uncle (only son to my grandparents), they happened to come and stay with us as my mother is their elder daughter.
Now, it is the time for me to enjoy all the fantasies which I wanted to enjoy as a kid. To some extent, I am completely happy to relish the moments with them…my grandmother, such a wonderful person, completely a new personality whom I haven’t known from childhood. She shared so many of her experiences right from her childhood, schooling, marriage, children…her life is like an epic for me. She said she even wanted to write a book when she was young, but she couldn’t. I was surprised to hear her thought-process, which even some people in modern world don’t have.
But, recently I realized, I am enjoying and living in the world of fantasies where everyone looks happy…but the reality made me think whether everyone is really happy as I am and enjoying the current “life-style” or not.
Then these facts came into picture:
- The place where you are living matters a lot than with whom you are living. I mean, though my grandparents are living with us, the place is quite new for them. It is difficult for them to go out on their own and they can’t always ask for someone to come along. Even if you wanna go along and make them feel comfortable, they feel they are burdening you. It is really hard to explain them that it is pleasure to spend time with them.
- The way of living is completely different in everyone’s home. It may be your own daughter’s home…but everything seems different when you actually start living there. “Life-style” really matters a lot and adapting to a completely new environment is really tough for anybody. This very thought sent chills to my spine, how can I adjust in a complete new home after marriage while I observe my grandparents finding it hard to adjust in their daughter’s home. OMG… it is gonna be a tough task…!!
Some such facts and couple of constraints are making me sick of losing my fantasy world yet again. But I have no idea what is gonna happen…!!
These conclusions made me think a bit broad minded… many other families might also have a similar problem…some might have adjusted…some might have learned to live the way it is comfortable…but I am not sure if everyone is living HAPPILY…!! Hope so…!!