The issue of old-age care has always been a hot topic. Many middle-aged and elderly people hope that their children can share the responsibility of old-age care and give them material and spiritual support. However, not all children can meet their expectations. Some children have a cold or negative attitude towards their parents' pension because of their own life pressure or different values.
This has left many parents disappointed and sad. "I worked hard to raise them, but they didn't care if I lived or died." This is a helpless sigh in the hearts of many parents. Aunt Zhang is such a parent. She has a son and a daughter, and she hopes that the two children will share the responsibility of old-age care.
However, after two years of living with her son and son-in-law, she found that the attitudes of the two families towards her were very different. When she was sick, her son was indifferent to her, but her son-in-law was willing to pay for treatment. Aunt Zhang finally decided to stop relying on her son and chose to live with her daughter. She felt the sincere care of her daughter and son-in-law and lived a happy life.
I'm Zhang Xiuying, 60 years old. I am a retired teacher who taught Chinese at a primary school before my retirement. My retirement salary is about 3,000 yuan a month, plus some subsidies and benefits, which is enough for my basic living expenses.
I have a son and a daughter. His son's name is Zhang Ming, 35 years old this year, working as a manager in a foreign company, with a monthly salary of more than 20,000 yuan. He is married and has a 4-year-old son. They live in an upscale apartment in the city center and live a wealthy life.
Her daughter's name is Zhang Hong, 32 years old this year, working as a nurse in a hospital with a monthly salary of more than 10,000 yuan. She is also married and has a 3-year-old daughter. They live in an ordinary house in the suburbs and live more frugally.
I started thinking about old-age care at the age of 57. I felt too lonely and safe to live alone. I want to be able to live with my children and enjoy the warmth of family. I don't want to burden them either, I just want them to care about me, chat with me, and occasionally take me out for a walk. I guess that's every parent's wish.
I discussed it with my son, and he agreed to let me move in with him. He said he had a spare room in his house that could be accommodated for me. He also said that he would give me 1,000 yuan of pocket money every month so that I didn't have to worry about money. I listened very happily and felt that my son was very filial and sensible. I packed up some things and moved to my son's house.
At first, I was quite satisfied. The son's house is big and beautiful, with air conditioning, internet and other facilities. The meals at my son's house are also very rich, and there are big fish and meat every day, which makes me full. The little grandson of my son's family is also lovely and plays with me a lot, which makes me very happy. But gradually, I found some problems.
My son and daughter-in-law did not treat me very well. They were busy with work every day, leaving early and returning late, and rarely spoke to me. Even at home, they didn't pay much attention to me, just watching TV, playing on my phone, and surfing the Internet. They also didn't care about my physical condition and living habits, and never asked me what I ate, how I slept, or if I was uncomfortable.
They also don't take me out shopping, seeing the scenery, and meeting new people. They seemed to treat me like a stranger, or a burden. The lifestyle of my son's family also made me very unaccustomed. They eat too much and are too greasy every day, which is not good for the body. They also often waste food, throw away leftover meals, and don't know to cherish food.
They also spend money indiscriminately and buy useless things, such as designer clothes, cosmetics, accessories, and so on. They also like to show off their wealth and status, often treating guests to dinner, giving gifts, playing cards and gambling money. They don't seem to have any ideals and pursuits, they only know to enjoy material happiness.
The youngest grandson of my son's family also worries me. Although he is very smart and cute, he is also very willful and mischievous. He doesn't like to study, he only loves to play games, watch cartoons, and eat snacks. He does not listen to adults, often talks back, loses his temper, and lies.
I lived in my son's house for two years and I was getting more and more unhappy. I felt like I had no status, no dignity, no joy here. I want to change the environment and see how things are doing at my daughter's house. I discussed it with my daughter and she happily agreed to let me move in with her.
She said that although her family was not as wealthy as her son's, she also had a spare room for me. She also said that she would give me 500 yuan a month in pocket money so that I didn't have to worry about money. I was also very happy to hear it, and I felt that my daughter was very filial and caring. I packed some things and moved to my daughter's house.
At first, I was a little worried. I was afraid that my son-in-law would treat me badly, that he would think I was an outsider, and that he would quarrel with his daughter. After all, there are many examples of discord between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law in society today, and some sons-in-law will even beat and scold the elderly. I don't want to cause trouble for my daughter, and I don't want to be wronged.
But it didn't take long for me to realize that my worries were superfluous. The son-in-law was very nice and respectful to me. He would greet me every day and ask me about my physical condition and life situation. He would also chat with me and share interesting facts and difficulties in his work and life. He would also take me out shopping, see the scenery, and meet new people.
He would also buy me some clothes, shoes, medicine and other daily necessities to make me feel very warm. My daughter was also very nice to me and very caring. She would cook me some delicious meals every day to make me eat healthy and delicious. She would also wash my clothes, clean my room, make my bed and other daily tasks to make my stay comfortable and clean.
She will also tell me some medical knowledge and health care methods, so that I can learn some new things and increase my knowledge. She also gives me massages and treatments to relax and relieve my pain. My daughter's little granddaughter also made me very happy. Although she is very lively and cute, she is also very sensible and well-behaved.
She loves to study and carefully completes homework and reviews texts every day. She also listens to adults and never talks back, loses her temper, or lies. She also often paints, sings, dances and other performances for me, which makes me very happy. The lifestyle of my daughter's family also makes me very comfortable. They eat moderate amounts every day, both nutritious and tasteful.
They also don't waste food, save the rest of the meal for the next day, and know to cherish food. They also don't spend money indiscriminately, just buy necessary things, such as books, medicines, toys and so on. They also do not show off their wealth and status, but work hard, thrifty, and aggressive.
They have their own ideals and pursuits, and they know to enjoy the joy of life. I lived at my daughter's house for a year and I am getting happier. I feel like I have status, dignity, and joy here. I feel like part of this family, the pillar of this family. I feel happy and lucky.
But the good times did not last long, and I fell ill after my daughter's house. I suddenly felt a dull pain in my chest, difficulty breathing, and dizziness. I thought it was just a momentary discomfort, so I didn't tell my daughter and son-in-law. But the next morning, I woke up and fainted. My daughter and son-in-law found out about my situation, were very worried, and immediately called an ambulance and took me to the hospital.
The doctor checked my body and told me I had a heart attack and needed an operation. The cost of surgery is about 50,000 yuan. The doctor also said that if it was not treated in time, my life would be in danger. I was scared and sad to hear it. I don't know what to do. I thought about my son and felt that he should be able to help me. After all, he is my biological son, and he also has money.
I asked my daughter to give him a call and tell him about my situation, hoping that he would contribute some money to help me. But my son's answer surprised me. He said he was busy right now and didn't have time to come and see me. He also said that he was tight on hand now and had no money for me. He also said he didn't believe the doctors and felt they were scamming the money.
My son's words made me very sad and angry. I can't believe it was what my biological son said. How could he do this to his mother? How could he be so ruthless and unrighteous? How could he be so ungrateful? What the hell does he take me for? Isn't he afraid of retribution?
The daughter and son-in-law heard their son's words, and they were also angry and sad. They comforted me and said to ignore my son's words and said that they would find a way to cure my illness. My son-in-law said he would lend me money for the operation, saying that money was not a problem, as long as it could save my life. My daughter said she would be by my side and that she would take care of my body and mood.
The words of my daughter and son-in-law touched me and I am very grateful. I saw their genuine care and selfless dedication to me. I feel like they are more like my relatives than my son. I decided to stop relying on my son and chose to live with my daughter. So, with the help of my son-in-law, I had surgery and successfully recovered.
During the recovery period after the operation, my daughter and son-in-law visited me every day to bring me food, water, medicine, flowers, etc. My little granddaughter also often comes to accompany me, reading to me, singing, dancing and so on. Their care and love make me feel very warm and happy. After a month in the hospital, I was finally able to be discharged.
My daughter and son-in-law drove me up and took me back to their home. They said they were happy that I was able to recover, that they loved me and that they wished I could live with them. I looked at their smiling faces, listened to their words, and felt their sincerity and kindness. I couldn't help but shed tears, hugged them, and said "thank you."
I know it's the best thing I've ever heard, the most beautiful sight I've ever seen in my life. I know it was the luckiest moment of my life, the happiest moment. Shortly after I was discharged from the hospital, I received a phone call. The call was from my son. He said he heard about my condition and said he regretted not helping me in time.
He said he now has some money and wants to give me some as compensation. He said he wanted to meet me and have a good talk with me. My son's call surprised and puzzled me. I don't know why he suddenly changed his attitude and why he suddenly wanted to reconcile. I asked him if something had happened, if there was something difficult.
He said nothing happened and there was nothing difficult. He said he just felt like he had done something wrong and wanted to make amends. I didn't quite believe it. I think he must have some purpose or motive. Maybe it's because he's in trouble or crisis and needs my help or support.
Maybe it's because he heard about my demolition money and wanted a piece of the pie or a handful of oil. Whatever the possibility, I don't want to have any more contact with my son. I feel that he has lost his qualifications and rights to be my son. I feel like he has hurt my heart and dignity. I felt like he had betrayed my trust and expectations.
So, I rejected my son and hung up. I told myself to stop paying attention to my son's words and actions. I told myself to stop having any hopes or illusions about my son. I told myself that as long as I lived with my daughter, it was the best choice, the happiest life.
Since then, I haven't contacted or seen my son again. I don't know how he's doing now, and I don't want to know. I just know I'm doing well and having fun now. I live with my daughter, son-in-law, and little granddaughter, and every day I have endless words and things to do. We eat together, watch TV together, walk together, travel together. We share joys and sorrows together, and face difficulties and challenges together. We feel family affection and love together, and create memories and future together.
Epilogue:
Through my story, I want to tell you a truth: family affection is not determined by blood, but by heart. Some people, although they are your biological children, do not know how to respect you, care for you, and love you. Some people, although not your biological children, can give you warmth, support, and happiness. We should not be fooled by superficial forms, but should see clearly the essence of the human heart. We should not be blinded by material temptations, but should cherish spiritual abundance.
I am grateful to my daughter and son-in-law for allowing me to rediscover the meaning and value of my life. They taught me what true affection and love are. They made me a happy and happy old man. I hope my story will inspire and move you. Thank you for listening and paying attention. May you all find your own path to happiness.
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