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"Hey, Xiao Ming, it's my mother. My mother's voice trembled a little on the phone, and my heart tightened, as if I had a premonition of something. "Your father's health is getting worse and worse, I really can't take care of it alone, can you come back to accompany him?"
When I heard my mother's words, my heart was filled with contradictions. As a son, I owe it my duty to go home to take care of my elderly parents. However, my career is on the rise now, and if I take a long time off from home, my work will definitely be greatly affected. What's more, I still have a wife and children to support, and if I lose my source of income, their lives will be in trouble.
I was in a lot of pain and was in a dilemma. On the one hand, I love my parents deeply and hope that they can enjoy a peaceful family in their old age. On the other hand, I also have my own family and career to take care of. I weighed it in my mind and finally made up my mind.
"Mom, don't worry, I'll take leave to go back. I said to my mother.
"Really? Great!" The mother's voice was full of joy.
I hung up the phone, turned to my wife and said, "Honey, I need to take a long leave of absence to go back to my hometown to take care of my parents." "
"I know, but we will never forget the nurturing grace of our parents. I said firmly, "Even if I sacrifice some interests for the time being, I must go back and take care of my father's old age." "
My wife looked at me and sighed, "Well, I understand your feelings. But if you want to come back as soon as possible, my child and I still need you. "
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon. I said firmly.
After saying goodbye to my wife and children, I stepped on the train back to my hometown. A few hours later, I finally arrived at my hometown. As soon as I stepped out of the station, I was greeted by the familiar scenery of the countryside, and my mood was mixed.
When I was a child, I used to play in these fields and by the river, and I was carefree and innocent. Today, I am a middle-aged man with a successful career, but I have to go back to where I used to be, taking care of my elderly father.
When I got home, I saw that my father's situation was much worse than I had imagined. He was scrawny, his eyes glazed, and he lay motionless on the bed. My mother told me that my father had almost lost all of his ability to take care of himself, and that he had to be taken care of by others.
"Your dad is having a hard time even going to the toilet on his own. The mother said helplessly, "I'm so old, my body really can't withstand long-term manipulation." "
"Dad, it's me, I'm back. I whispered to him, but got no response.
In order to take better care of my father, we have a division of roles. The mother is responsible for cooking and some simple household chores; I was in charge of my father's daily life, toileting, and other more physically demanding tasks. There are also a few relatives who work nearby and will come to help from time to time.
"Xiao Ming, you have to worry too much. My mother patted me on the shoulder and said, "Your dad is having a hard time rolling over now, so you have to be extra careful not to hurt him." "
"I'll try, Mom. I nodded, but I was uneasy. Taking care of an elderly person who has completely lost the ability to take care of himself is a new challenge for me.
"Dad, you bear with it, and you'll be fine soon. "Looking at my father's painful expression, my heart felt like it was being grabbed by life.
When I first started taking care of my father, I struggled. My father was weak, and the slightest exertion would make him miserable. I had to learn all kinds of caregiving skills, carefully changing his cloth, helping him to go to the toilet, etc.
Once, while changing my father's clothes, he suddenly went berserk and struggled desperately, and I was hit in the face by his fist, and my nose was bleeding. The mother hurriedly came to comfort her, but she was also beaten by him. Eventually, we had to turn to a neighbor for help, and seven or eight people worked together to subdue him.
"I'm sorry, it's all my fault. Afterwards, my mother said to me with guilt in her eyes, "Your dad sometimes goes crazy suddenly, and we have a hard time taking care of it." "
"It's okay, Mom. I wiped my nosebleed and said, "It's my greatest wish to take care of my father." "
During the time when I was taking care of my father at home, the conflict between me and my wife gradually became apparent. Once, she made a video call and saw me looking haggard, and she was furious.
"Look at yourself, it's like crawling out of hell!" She pointed to the screen and said hoarsely, "Are you just ruining your body like this? Have you forgotten about me and the child?"
"What's the explanation? You can come back to me now! Otherwise, we'll get divorced!"
That night, I couldn't sleep for a long time. I hid in the toilet and secretly shed tears.
As a son, I owe my filial piety to take care of my elderly parents. But if I'm on the move, what will happen to my wife and children?
I began to regret my decision and felt like I was losing everything. If you continue to stay here, I am afraid that the job will be lost; If you leave, you will abandon your parents again. No matter which path I choose, I will be burdened with lifelong regrets and self-blame.
Just when I was in great pain, my mother knocked on the toilet door.
"Xiao Ming, are you okay?" She asked with concern.
"I'm fine, Mom, you can go back and rest first. I choked up and tried to make my voice sound as normal as possible.
"As a mother, I don't want to see you like this. The mother sighed, "You have to think twice before you act, don't embarrass yourself." "
I was in a state of unprecedented distress and contradiction, and I was going crazy.
While I was struggling, my father's condition deteriorated. One night, he suddenly had a high fever and began to lose consciousness. We hurriedly called the village doctor, but the doctor's face was solemn after examination, and the judgment was not optimistic.
He didn't finish the second half of the sentence, but I already understood what he meant. Looking at my father lying in bed and dying, tears welled up in my eyes.
"Dad, you must hold on! You are my biological father, how can I live without you!" I held his hand tightly and wept bitterly.
The mother also cried, and she shook her hands and slapped her father's cheek again and again, trying to wake him up.
In this desperate moment, several of my siblings also put down their work and rushed back. Seeing their father so dying, their hearts were like knives, and they recalled their father's nurturing grace back then.
Everyone, you and I said one sentence at a time, and told my father's kindness all over again. Looking at the familiar face on the bed, we all burst into tears, vowing to give our father the best care and let him leave this world safely.
Since then, we have formed a strong care team, and everyone does their best. My older sisters took care of my father's daily life, while my younger brothers and I were responsible for changing my father's cloth and helping him with the toilet.
Although we have all entered middle age, careers and families, when my father was dying, we still did not hesitate to leave everything behind, just to take good care of his last journey.
"Dad, you see, our children are back now, and we will definitely serve you well. "That's what I say every time we change the cloth for my father.
Although my father is delirious, I believe that he must have felt our filial piety in his heart. With the full care of our children, he will be able to survive this last ordeal in peace.
We have been taking care of my father day and night, and we haven't worked together like this for many years. Sometimes, I can't help but sigh that maybe it is my father's dying that allows us scattered brothers and sisters to be reunited.
Although it was hard work, every time I saw my father's peaceful sleeping face, I felt a sense of satisfaction that I had never felt before. Yes, that's what we should do, to repay our father's nurturing kindness with actions.
Perhaps, God took a fancy to our filial piety and opened a window. Just as we were preparing for our last journey for our father, a miracle happened!