It turns out that the principle doesn’t always work – everyone in the family has to help each other. Sometimes the help is one-sided. That’s how it was with us. Whenever possible, we helped my parents, supporting them completely. And when the situation happened, when we needed help, they didn’t lift a finger.
After all, throughout my childhood I was inculcated that the family must come first in everyone’s life. There was no discussion about it. Family is the closest people. And family ties are the strongest. And they are indestructible. This has been drummed into me since I was a child.
In my early childhood, I remember our family being very strong. And close-knit. I still can’t forget how we all went to dig potatoes together. And it was a big undertaking. There were four cars on the road. And they were filled to capacity. The adults were digging, and we were playing in the shade of the trees, spoiling. Then there was a picnic, delicious food on the blanket. Potatoes were baked in the fire, plus lard with fresh pickles. Yummy!
Then the adult generation passed away. There were less of us. Young people left. Nothing resembled a big and close-knit family any more. But I continued to live by the principles laid down in me by my mother and my father. That’s how they raised me.
After I got married, I called my mother on the phone regularly. I missed my parents. And she used to reproach me for wasting my time. It was better to do something useful. I thought she was distracting me from my sad thoughts, only it turned out that she was fed up with my calls and useless chitchat.
At first we didn’t have much money and we didn’t do anything to help our relatives. We survived on our own. And we needed help too. My husband wanted to set up his own business, and I helped him. It was hard. I had to sleep little, eat poorly, economize on everything and persevere toward my goal. I even had no money for winter boots. And when my autumn boots tore, I wore winter boots in the spring and fall. That’s why I immediately changed into sandals.
When things got a little bit better, I decided to have a baby. We planned the pregnancy. But it was hard, because I couldn’t work anymore. I went to hospitals, and my husband had to make it on his own. It didn’t get any better after the birth. My parents were at work, and my husband had only an elderly grandmother to take care of.
I was already thinking about giving it all up. But my husband needed support and didn’t want to give up on his dream. He was stubborn. Slowly, things got better and life got better. Everything changed.
Not only did we provide for ourselves, but we also helped our parents. At first on our own initiative. But after that they got used to it and gave us orders. As a result we repaired their whole house, and after that we even sent them to the resort, helped them with the car, paid for the treatment. The income grew, and with it, so did the help.
It got to the point where they completely switched to our support. They took it for granted. After all, they are our family. Especially since I thought if I needed their help myself, they would never say no either.
A year ago my husband and I were in a car accident. Nothing serious, but we had to go to the hospital. My daughter was okay. But she shouldn’t have been left alone all the time, she is only 7 years old. She’s a little young. Except for a couple of hours.
While we lived in the hospital, not yet cured, then I called the mother and asked if they took her granddaughter to her. So it turns out they hadn’t. So I decided to tell her directly. After all, they can look after her until we get better.
My mother was completely calm. She said she and her father had already booked a trip and were flying south today. I thought I must have heard wrong.
– What are you doing? My husband and I almost died, didn’t we? Barely survived, and you refuse to help us in this situation?
– It ended well. You’ll get better under medical supervision, and Anna’s an adult. She’ll be fine.
I hung up the phone and cried. A nurse came and gave me a sedative. Then the nurse called back and I told her what had happened. She didn’t ask me anything and said she was already running to get plane tickets to come to us. It was only three or four hours and we had her.
And so my sister and her daughter came to visit me. I was completely calm about Anna. My sister said that she would stay here as long as necessary. She could also work remotely. And Anna assured me that she would listen to her aunt.
My mother and father left after all. And they didn’t even call to inquire how we were doing, whether we were on the mend. I haven’t spoken to them since. It really hurt me that they paid me back for our kindness. So much for family…
