At six o'clock in the morning, Li Boming pressed the alarm clock of his mobile phone that woke him up, lifted his sore body, and started a new day.
"Grandpa, where are my clothes?" Xiao Fang, who had just finished washing, poked her head out of the room and looked at Li Boming sleepily.
"Just in the chair, look for yourself." Li Boming pointed to the chair by the door and urged her to get dressed quickly, he wanted to take her and her brother to school.
Xiaofang complained about how the clothes were not where she wanted, and Li Boming smiled and helped her find them and instructed her to put them on.
After packing up his two grandchildren, Li Boming drove them to school. On the way, he thought to himself, he is old, his physical strength and energy are not as good as before, simple housework and children's living are struggling, I really don't know how long he can last.
After the children went to school, Li Boming rushed home non-stop to cook. His wife's legs and feet are not very dexterous, and the work in the kitchen basically falls on him alone.
Ready for lunch, Li Boming can finally take a break. He rubbed his sore waist and took a nap in his chair.
"Old man, what do I eat for lunch?" With a squeak, his wife pushed the door and entered, limping to Li Boming's side.
"Made your favorite braised fish and greens." Li Boming looked up and smiled, quickly stood up and helped his wife to sit down, poured her a cup of hot water, and told her to be careful with her legs and feet.
The two chatted without a match, and soon it was time to pick up their grandchildren from school. Li Boming started the car again and went to school to pick up the two siblings and go home.
When they arrived at school, Xiaofang and her brother quarreled about their experience at school today as soon as they got into the car, and Li Boming drove carefully while listening.
"Grandpa, I'm going to play at Xiaohong's house!" Xiao Fang said with her head held high.
"Not today, another day. Grandpa is a little tired today. Li Boming persuaded. In fact, he had a sore back and just wanted to go home quickly to rest, but Xiaofang begged vigorously, and Li Boming finally agreed.
The period after school is Li Boming's busiest time. Xiaofang and her brother were very excited when they came home from school, and they talked about what happened at school today.
After Xiaofang finished speaking, she pulled Li Boming to play a game.
"Grandpa, come and play this new game!" Xiaofang took out her mother's newly bought mobile phone and downloaded a lot of games on it.
"Okay, Grandpa will play with you for a while." Li Boming pushed his glasses, although he was not familiar with these new things, but looking at his granddaughter's expectant eyes, he decided to play with her for a while.
Xiaofang happily teaches Li Boming to play games, and Li Boming has clumsy fingers and always loses to Xiaofang. Xiao Fang laughed, and Li Boming was also amused by her.
"Grandpa, the meal you made today is delicious!" After eating, Xiaofang praised, "I like my grandfather's cooking the most!" ”
"Then Grandpa will make your favorite food for you tomorrow." Li Boming said with a smile. Although it is becoming more and more difficult to cook by yourself, it is still very gratifying to see my granddaughter eating happily.
After dinner, Xiaofang said that she wanted her grandfather to accompany her homework. Li Boming pushed his glasses, opened her exercise book, and frowned at the topics one by one.
"Grandpa, I don't know this math problem, you can help me do it." Xiao Fang shook Li Boming's hand and asked for help.
"Okay, grandpa take a look." Li Boming thought for a moment, but still handed over the pen and helped Xiaofang complete the more difficult topic.
In the dead of night, Li Boming finally sent away his grandchildren, and the whole person collapsed on the chair and gasped. The day's work left him exhausted, and his back began to ache faintly.
As the children grew up, their dependence on Li Boming became stronger. Li Boming's life was filled with many trivial matters, and he felt more and more tired physically and mentally.
After sending his grandchildren to school as usual in the morning, Li Boming had just returned home to take a breath when he received a call from his son, saying that he was going on a business trip at noon, hoping that Li Boming could pick them up from the children's school.
After lunch, Li Boming went to his grandchildren's school and waited for them at the school gate. "Another day.
Seeing more and more children pouring out of the school, Li Boming took out his glasses and searched carefully, and finally saw Xiaofang and his brother walking out side by side, waving to him.
"Grandpa!" The two brothers and sisters shouted in unison, ran over and pulled Li Boming to the car.
"What are we going to have for lunch?" Xiaofang asked excitedly. Li Boming thought about the remaining ingredients in the refrigerator and decided to make some simple home-cooked dishes.
Along the way, Xiaofang and her younger brother talked about what happened in the school, and Li Boming listened while driving, interjecting a sentence or two from time to time.
After lunch, Xiaofang said that she wanted to go to the playground. Li Boming wanted to persuade her to go again another day, but looking at her expectant little eyes, he still couldn't bear to refuse.
"Grandpa, look how good I am at playing this speeding game!" Xiaofang said with a smile while sitting on the speeding car.
"Well, it's awesome!" Li Boming said approvingly, but looking at the speeding car, he himself felt a little dizzy.
After playing round and round, Li Boming felt a little struggling, but his grandchildren still happily sat on one project after another.
That night, the grandchildren finally got tired of playing and slept soundly. Li Boming collapsed and lay on the bed, his body aching terribly.
He understands that this is his responsibility, and he can only continue to endure the double torment of body and mind.
On this day, Li Boming, as usual, got up early to take his grandchildren to school. After school, he went to pick up the children and go home.
After dinner, Li Boming was preparing to wash his hands and cook, when he suddenly felt dizzy. He sat down slowly against the table, his temples pounding.
"What's wrong with you?" My wife came over worriedly.
"Maybe a little low blood sugar, I'll go to the kitchen and get something to eat." Li Boming waved his hand, slowly stood up and wanted to go to the kitchen, but his footsteps softened and he fell directly to the ground.
"Old man!" His wife exclaimed, squatting down with difficulty to help him, but he couldn't get up alone.
"What's wrong with your grandfather?" Hearing the movement, Xiaofang and her brother ran over, and when they saw Li Boming falling to the ground, they were frightened, and they hugged their wife tightly and cried in fear.
The wife asked the grandchildren to call an ambulance quickly. Soon, the children's parents also rushed over and took Li Boming to the hospital together.
In the hospital, everyone anxiously guarded the unconscious Li Boming. The doctor diagnosed that he may have suffered a minor stroke due to chronic overwork.
"If we hadn't always entrusted the child to my father, he wouldn't have worked so hard." The eldest son said bitterly.
A few days later, under the treatment of doctors, Li Boming finally woke up. Seeing the family gathered around the bed, he smiled weakly.
"Dad, don't take our children, it's only right to rest well." The sons and daughters instructed.
Li Boming nodded, thinking that this encounter finally made his family realize the seriousness of the problem. Perhaps this is a warning from heaven that he should learn to care for himself and not overwork for a long time.
After returning home from the hospital, Li Boming seriously thought about his excessive doting on his grandchildren. He realized that as a grandparent, the main responsibility should lie with the child's parents, not with himself.
One day, Li Boming took the initiative to talk to his eldest son: "Son, Dad wants to discuss something with you." I think we should recalibrate the way we get along with our grandchildren, give them some autonomy, and develop the skills to live independently, which will also be good for their growth.
The eldest son nodded: "You are right, children are mainly our responsibility as parents." You and Mom have done so much for us, it's time to rest.
With the understanding of his eldest son, a big stone hanging in Li Boming's heart finally fell to the ground. He voluntarily reduced the time spent caring for his grandchildren and handed more responsibility to their parents.
One day, Xiaofang ran to Li Boming: "Grandpa, can you accompany me to do my homework?" ”
Li Boming smiled and said: "Homework must be done by yourself to have a sense of accomplishment." If there is a place where you can't, you can ask Mom and Dad.
Xiaofang nodded, pulled Li Boming to play the game for a while and ran back to do his homework. Li Boming looked at her growing back and felt that she had slowly become independent.
In addition to taking care of himself, Li Boming also often communicates with his children to express his feelings and thoughts. The children are very understanding and supportive, and take the initiative to share the responsibility of caring for the children.
Once Li Boming was ill and hospitalized, and his children took their grandchildren to their homes to take care of them, so Li Boming could concentrate on recuperating without worries.
After this personal experience, Li Boming re-examined the meaning of life and self-positioning. He realizes that he still has many passions and dreams that have not been fulfilled and should not live only for his grandchildren.
Li Boming began to find time to do something he liked. He picked up his youthful hobby of painting and enrolled in a community painting interest class.
Li Boming also regained the joy of reading. He chooses a book that interests him every day and reads it carefully. Reading not only enriched his inner world, but also sharpened his thinking.
"Dad, I'm admitted to my ideal university!" One day, the eldest grandson excitedly came to share the good news with Li Boming.
"Great! Grandfather is proud of you! Li Boming is sincerely pleased with the growth of his eldest grandson.
"Old man, you've been in such good spirits lately." My wife said with a smile.
"Yes, I have found the meaning of life." Li Boming replied with a smile. He understands that his well-being is what counts, which reassures his family and makes his life more quality.
The relationship between Li Boming and his grandchildren has also become more equal and harmonious. They will regularly video chat to share their lives.
He enjoys this new relationship of mutual respect.
After experiencing this series of events, Li Boming has become more and more aware that planning his time reasonably, caring for his physical and mental health, and maintaining an independent life are the keys to happiness.
As an old man, he should not only think about the next generation, but also learn to live for himself. He needs to find meaning and joy in life, not just to complete tasks assigned to him by others.
Li Boming understands that his children are busy with work, and entrusting his children to himself is also out of trust and understanding.
He needs to communicate well with his children and express his feelings and boundaries. Children should also learn to understand and support the needs of the elderly.
Now Li Boming has found his own rhythm of life. He spends time learning new things, meeting new friends, and participating in activities that interest him.
Occasionally, when his children went out to take care of their grandchildren, Li Boming would also offer to help. But he no longer allowed this to become the main theme of life.
Thanks to his family's understanding and support, Li Boming regained his balance in life and enjoyed every comfortable day in his life.
Watching his grandchildren grow up day by day, Li Boming was pleased to find that they had gradually acquired the ability to live independently.
The careful teaching of their parents made them sensible and confident, and they no longer needed Li Boming's excessive care.
Li Boming and his wife are now living a comfortable retirement life. Walking, reading books, and practicing calligraphy every day, life is simple but colorful.
Life is like a long practice, and Li Boming finally understands that giving his grandchildren proper autonomy and caring for their physical and mental health is the key to a happy life.
Li Boming hopes that his experience can inspire more elderly people in trouble, learn to plan their time reasonably, and enjoy every good time in life.