Parental Appreciation

I think it's true what they say; that you never truly appreciate the sacrifices that your parents made, until you become a parent yourself. It's not to say that you couldn't appreciate all your parents have done for you, in not being a parent yourself, but becoming a parent yourself definitely puts things into a far greater perspective. As children, we seem to have no understanding of sacrifice whatsoever. The world is all about us, and just having fun. We don't give a thought to the fact our mummy or daddy packs us a healthy lunch to take to school each day. We don't give a thought to how our mummy and daddy spend their time and energy to provide us with clean clothes in our drawer to wear. We don't give a thought to how the food placed on the table in front of us was provided from mummy and/or daddy after having worked hard at their jobs each day, and then coming home to prepare our meals for us. We don't give a thought to the fact that our mummy and daddy work so hard just to keep a roof over our head, and provide us with warm clothing to wear. Our thoughts are only centered around what new toys or what yummy lollies and ice cream mummy and daddy can buy for us. We want to just be happy, have fun, and we live with an expectation that mummy and daddy will always be there to provide for us. By the time we reach our teenage years, even then, our expectations rarely change. The only difference is that we become more defiant, and we demonstrate a worse attitude. In fact, our expectations become greater, as we feel the need to keep up with our friends in having the latest forms of technology at our disposal.

It's both a sad and scary fact to think that by the time we reach 18, on average, we have spent 95% of the time we will ever get to spend with our parents up until this point in our life. Even as we enter into young adulthood, the majority of us still fail to have an appreciation for all our parents have ever done for us, and all they have ever sacrificed for us. Life becomes all about going out and partying on the weekend, getting drunk with our friends, and finding some sort of stable employment. Maybe we are too focused on our university studies. Many of us continue living with our parents, some of us board free, taking for granted all the blessings and provisions our parents have provided. By the time we reach our 20's and 30's, we finally start to realize the extent of what our parents really did for us, and how much they really sacrificed, but the disappointing part to this is, we only often realize this only off the back of them either passing away, or after we have children of our own. When we finally start to mature, and understand all the pressures, stresses, hardships, hard work involved, and all the sacrifices needed to be made, that come as a part of life, it's then we truly start to acknowledge and appreciate all what our parents did for us. When we start facing all the early mornings, the late nights, the sleepless nights, the job stress, the living costs, the cooking, the washing, the keeping the house clean, the long working hours, the ongoing financial pressure, and the dedication, time, effort, and energy, that goes into raising another human being, we finally discover appreciation. After we farewell our parents at their funeral, each day that passes thereafter, we start regretting all those missed opportunities that we failed to tell them how much we love them, and how much we truly appreciated everything they ever did for us.

In my 40's, having lost my father 14 years ago, and my mother now 2 years ago, I can honestly say that I was one of these people I have listed above. On reflection, I can see clearly everything that my parents did for both me and my sister. I can remember on a few occasions where Dad used to tell us kids that we should be grateful for going on the holidays that we did, because most kids wouldn't get that privilege. I think my sister and I basically let those words go in one ear, and out the other. Perhaps we thought that two interstate holidays each year, for just 5 days, wasn't exactly a big deal, considering there were other kids we knew who were holidaying overseas. That's typical of most humans though, that we always focus on what we don't have, rather than having an appreciation for what we do. One of the greatest examples of love that you will ever witness though, is that a parent has for their child, evident by all the time, sacrifice, money, and commitment, that goes into that relationship. Granted there are a few disappointing exceptions, but the overwhelming majority of parents worldwide would do anything for their children, and want the best for their children. Granted also, that everyone isn't raised by both a mummy and daddy, or raised by their biological parents, but the love and sacrifice that goes into a parent looking after their child is astronomical.

In this knowledge, of everything our parents have done for us, why do so many of us take them for granted? Why does it take us so many years in life to fully appreciate all the sacrifices they made for us, and all the provisions they have given us? Why do we treat them with such disrespect and attitude? If you're reading this as a teenager, or young adult, and you still have your parents alive, but you have never taken the opportunity to thank them, or have told them how much you appreciate them, or remind them how much you love them, then what are you waiting for? Take a moment to understand also, how extremely blessed you are to have both your parents still alive and in your presence. We are often guilty as teenagers and young adults thinking that we will live forever, that we are invincible, and that our parents will always be around, and we get a nasty shock to the system when we become severely ill, or our parents pass away. As we continue to age though, we start to realize how valuable time is, and how quickly it starts passing us by. Don't waste a moment to express your love and appreciation to your parents, whilst you actually get the chance. Never undervalue how much your parents have done for you! As they grow older and weaker, never hesitate to return that sacrifice, and provide them that help and support, as they did for you as a child. It's time we started to show more parental appreciation than what we do, especially in our younger years. Let's make every moment with our parents count, as one day, they will be gone forever, and we don't want to have regrets in our heart, we just want wonderful memories. To all the parents who have sacrificed and applied themselves wholeheartedly to raising their child or children, especially with decent morals, to you we acknowledge and appreciate what you do.

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