My name is Li Xiaodong, I am 45 years old, I work as a white-collar worker in a foreign company, and I have been married for 15 years. My wife Wang Fang and I have a daughter, Li Sisi, who is now 10 years old and is a smart and clever child.
On this day, I came home from work as usual, and as soon as I entered the door, I heard my wife talking loudly in the kitchen, and her tone was a little excited.
Mom, what did you say about going back to your hometown?The conditions here are very good, with me and Xiaodong taking care of you, can you go back to the countryside as an old man?”
I quietly walked into the kitchen, and it turned out that my mother Zhang Yulan and Wang Fang were talking. My mother's face didn't look very good, and she kept her head down and didn't speak.
I said, "Mom, do you want to go back to your hometown?"What's wrong?”
My mother raised her head to look at me, with tears in her eyes: "Xiaodong, I'm really homesick, your father has been gone for so many years, I am alone in this city, and my heart is empty." You and Fang'er are also busy with work and don't have time to talk to me. I want to go back to my hometown, life is not as good as in your city, but after all, there are mountains, rivers and fields that I am familiar with. ”
I walked over and put my arm around Mom's shoulder: "Mom, are you really okay alone?"Are you okay?Otherwise, you can continue to live with us. ”
My mom shook her head: "I know you and Fang'er will worry about me, but I'm really fine. Just let me go back, I miss every grass and tree in my hometown. ”
At this time, Wang Fang also came over: "Auntie, are you really independent by yourself?"What if there is something wrong with your body and we can't take care of you?”
My mother patted Wang Fang's hand: "Fang'er, I know you are for my good." But I really want to go back, and you don't have to worry too much about me. I can still take care of my own life, don't worry. ”
Wang Fang wanted to say something, but I stopped her: "Fang, since my mother wants to go back to her hometown, we should also respect her ideas." ”
I didn't expect Wang Fang to have such a big reaction. My mother's face became even more ugly, her eyes turned red, and she whispered, "Fang'er, I know you're worried about me, but I really want to go back to my hometown, even if it's only for a few years." ”
Your old man is alone in the countryside, no one takes care of him, and it is inconvenient to buy medicine and see a doctor!Wang Fang's tone was very excited.
Auntie, we understand that you are homesick, but the body is important, isn't it better here?"I'm in a hurry, too.
My mom had tears rolling in her eyes and didn't speak.
I looked at my mother's rickety back and sad face, and I felt very sorry. Over the years, we have been so busy with work that we haven't been able to go back to our hometown to visit my mother often. Mom lives alone in a foreign land, and she must be very lonely. I persuaded softly: "Fang, we shouldn't forcibly leave my mother like this, we should listen to my mother's thoughts." ”
Xiaodong, you. Wang Fang wanted to say something, but I raised my hand to interrupt her: "I know you are thinking about your mother, but we can't deprive my mother of her right to go home." We can call ** often, and we can also go back to visit my mother regularly. ”
Wang Fang was silent, and I continued: "Mom, don't worry, as long as you want to go back to your hometown, we will fully support you." It may not be convenient for you to live alone, and we will often call ** to ask you about your current situation. ”
Thank you, Xiaodong. Mom finally showed a smile, "I know that you and Fang'er are worried about me, I will take care of myself, you don't have to worry too much." ”
Mom, you said you would go back to your hometown. When you get back, remember to contact us as much as possible. Every weekend I would hit **. "I patted Mom's arm.
Good boy, I will. Mom smiled and nodded.
Wang Fang still looked disapproving. I gave her a wink, we should all respect Mom's decision.
In this way, after discussion, we decided to let my mother go back to her hometown according to her own wishes. I started searching for information on the Internet and going through the procedures for my mother to return to my hometown.
My parents, who are in their 70s, offered to take turns supporting my brother and me. My brother and I reluctantly agreed at first, but our wives were very upset when they learned about it.
My wife, Li Mei, complained to me: "I have worked hard to raise children over the years, you shouldn't agree to your parents' request, we are also very hard." You know to listen to your parents all day long, and you don't take me and the child seriously at all. ”
I explained: "My parents are also kind, they are older, and I hope we can care more about them. You just grieve it, and the child will be sensible when he grows up. ”
Li Mei said angrily: "Am I wronged?."I've been wronged for so many years!When have you really been on my side?If you want a divorce, I'll take the children away!”
I saw that she was so angry, and I also became angry, and said loudly: "If you want to divorce, divorce, I don't care!".”
The two people quarreled, the child cried, and the atmosphere was very bad for a while.
My younger brother Xiaogang and his wife Zhang Li are also arguing with him. Zhang Li nagged every day these days, saying that my parents were too selfish, and that she would cut off relations with my family. Xiaogang has a bad temper, and he is also very unhappy when Zhang Li says it.
After a few days, my dad saw the tension between our two families, and he was very upset. One day, I went to visit my parents, and my father said to me, "Son, it's my parents' fault that they only think about themselves, not your feelings and your daughter-in-law's." It is indeed very selfish for you and my sister to make such a request not long after they got married. This time it was your parents who were wrong, and if you and your sister want to live a good life in the future, your parents will figure it out themselves. ”
I also felt embarrassed when I heard it, and quickly said, "Dad, what you and Mom said also makes sense." It is not easy for you to raise us, and we should care more about you. This time we can't stand you, I'll talk to Li Mei when I go back, and we'll definitely think of a way to get the best of both worlds. ”
My dad touched my head and said, "Son, the most important thing for you and your sister to live a good life on our own is the most important thing, don't take your parents' affairs to heart." This old bone can see you well, which is the greatest comfort. ”
I looked at my father's gray hair, and I felt very uncomfortable. When I got home, I looked for Li Mei and said sincerely: "It's me who is wrong, I shouldn't agree to my father's request without considering your feelings." I'm too inconsiderate of you, I'm sorry. The two of us have a good discussion, and my brother's family, we will all think of ways together to make the old man happy in his old age. What do you say?”
When Li Mei heard me say this, her face softened: "You finally know that you can think about me and the child first?."It's not that you can't give your parents a little living expenses, but you can't go too far, we're also very tired. ”
I see, let's find a balance. I nodded.
That's good, in fact, I don't want your parents to suffer, but you have to be considerate of me, don't just try to make me compromise. Li Mei said.
I understand, I must care more about you and the child in the future. "I knew that I was really too simplistic and didn't think about things from my wife's point of view.
I called ** to tell my brother that he and his daughter-in-law would come to my house, and we would all discuss this matter. My brother said that Zhang Li is also reflecting on herself these days, and she regrets the quarrel with Xiaogang, so she agreed to come to my house for a family meeting. After my brother and Zhang Li came to my house, I first told the two of them that this time my wife and I did not think carefully and did not fully think about the problem from their standpoint, and this time I will re-discuss with the elderly and find a way that everyone can accept to take care of the elderly's life.
Zhang Li said: "It's not entirely your fault, it's me who also has the problem." I was so excited that I didn't think about the old man's intentions, and I only thought about my own burden. We should also be considerate of the feelings of the elderly. ”
Xiao Gang also said: "Yes, we are all responsible. The old man has brought us up, and we should care more about them. It's just that we still need to discuss how to do it. ”
So a few of us sat down around the table and started talking about it. I proposed that we could start a family**, and every month my brother and I would contribute a certain amount of money to support the living expenses of the elderly. Li Mei disagreed, she felt that this would become mandatory and increase the burden in the future. Zhang Li also said that she and Xiao had just gotten married and were not financially well-off.
After much discussion, we decided not to set a fixed cost for support. My younger brother and I give the elderly a certain amount of living expenses every month according to our own situation. If a particular month is really tight, it can be postponed or reduced. But we care about the lives of the elderly and visit them often.
Just when we were about to reach a consensus, we suddenly received a critical illness notice from the old man. It turned out that the old man was seriously ill and was already in the critical care unit of the hospital. A few of us were terrified and rushed to the hospital.
When we saw the old man's sick and withered appearance, we all burst into tears. Xiao Gang choked up and said, "Dad, you hold on, we're all coming to see you!."Li Mei also took the old man's hand and said, "Uncle and aunt, you must take care of your health!."”
The doctor said that the old man had an acute cerebral hemorrhage and was already unconscious, and his vital signs were very weak. A few of us were frightened and quickly decided to take turns taking care of the elderly from today onwards. During the day, Li Mei or I would come to the hospital, and at night, Xiao Gang and the two of them would come to keep vigil.
We took care of the elderly in every possible way, and finally the condition of the elderly improved. A week later, the old man finally woke up and opened his eyes to see us all standing by the bedside. "My sons have come to see meI'm sorry for your trouble. The old man said weakly.