By Nan Donovan, columnist
There is one thing that makes me and most people very angry and that is disrespect. Disrespect for teacher, law enforcement officers, siblings and even people we consider friends. But the one thing I could never figure out was children and adults showing their disrespect for their parents. The very people who supports them, loves them and would do anything for them.
Today I was at the grocery store, a job we all have to do, a job I dislike so much, I would rather be home washing a sink full of dirty dishes. I dislike going to the store because I take a list with me, if I haven’t forgotten it, but it still doesn’t help me with what foods to buy. As I was debating over what icing to put on the chocolate cake I was going to bake, a very loud, angry sounding voice came from the next aisle over.
I was curious so I walked over. There was a middle-aged woman shouting at an elderly couple. The couple looked embarrassed at the other people who had heard the angry voice. The shouting woman? This was probably routine for her because she didn’t lower her voice, not even with all the onlookers.
“You’re not going to buy that. You’ll keep munching on it and won’t eat anything else.”
“Put that back. It’s new and it will go to waste because you won’t eat it.”
Can’t they have something to snack on? Can’t they even try new food? I walked away. Those poor people. Did this happen all the time? I left the store without buying anything. All these questions I had about the elderly couple and what their lives must be like.
I looked up disrespect on the computer and how often it happened to people, by people and I was shocked. It happens far more often than we think. Children of all ages that have problems later in life? Many times it is caused by parents who never knew true happiness taking it out on the children, always disagreeing about the child’s wishes.
But what I had witnessed wasn’t children. The article I was reading had a whole section on “When The Children Become The Parents.”
Some of the things the article stresses is your children having the added burden, as you age, of not only taking care of their own children, but now they have you to care for.
Or it might be their children are now on their own and now they feel they are tied down with you. Just when they thought they thought they would have some free time.
If you feel like you don’t have any say over your life, go to your doctor, pastor or someone you can trust their judgement where you all can sit down and talk over the situation. Agree to disagree, but make sure both parties are okay with the solution. After all, these are these are the “Golden Years.” Or that’s what we are supposed to believe. Believe it.
Till next time, be safe.
“The Right Age” is a weekly column written for senior citizens by 84-year-old Nan Donovan, who has lived in the Shenandoah Valley for 45 years. She has worked for newspapers, as well as radio and television stations, including WLCC. She moved to the Valley from Pennsylvania.
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