Time flies, and in an instant I have entered the year of the sixtieth year. After experiencing countless ups and downs, my understanding of filial piety has become more and more profound. At one time, I thought that obedience was all there was to filial piety, but as time went on, I became aware of the one-sidedness of this concept.
Since retiring five years ago, I have taken on the responsibility of caring for my elderly mother. For the past five years, I have been like a tireless merry-go-round, always revolving around my mother. When night fell, I often stayed by her side and accompanied her through long nights after night. However, this pace of life made me feel tired, and I began to think about the true meaning of filial piety.
My mother always made a lot of demands on me, from daily chores to food and daily life, she had her own unique opinions. I tried my best to meet her needs, but I found it difficult to meet her expectations. Sometimes, her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade.
What makes it even more difficult for me to let go is that my mother treats my sister's children very differently. Every time my sister's children visited, she always generously gave red envelopes and love, while my children seemed to be forgotten by her. This apparent partiality fills my heart with confusion and dissatisfaction.
As the physical exhaustion and mental depression continued to accumulate, I finally made up my mind to make a change after a physical discomfort. After in-depth communication with my sister, we decided to hire a professional nanny for my mother to take care of her daily life.
Although my mother initially objected strongly to this, at the insistence of my sister and me, she eventually relented. The arrival of the nanny completely changed my life, and I was finally freed from the heavy chores and started to focus on my health and inner world.
Looking back now, I am glad I made that decision. Filial piety does not mean unconditional obedience and sacrifice, but to provide the best care and companionship for parents while caring for oneself. This experience has made me understand more deeply that true filial piety should be based on equality, respect and understanding.