It's The Thought That Matters

-isn't really as fun as you think it would be especially when you have a family with kids. What made me express myself in this post even with an aching body and a mild headache is the thought of someone who's currently at home. Sometimes, we think to ourselves that, "Hey, wouldn't be staying alone fun and also makes you independent?" It's true that we will turn out to be the people we think we will be, independent and all but why not we stop here and think of the person or the people the WE leave behind. I read this quote once when I was preparing my friend's gift before she left for UK and I still keep that quote in my mind till this very day and I don't plan to forget it. Let us put ourselves in our parents' shoes, for those of us who are studying away from home. Are we ready to let our kids go when the time comes? Will we be ready to give our full support when they need to be away from us for a span of 3-5 years, coming back only once or twice a year if they're abroad. Personally, no, I don't think so. Imagine yourself in a house, with your kids playing / eating / studying / talking / fighting / (insert any activity you can think here) and suddenly, they're just gone like that. How can we adapt to it so quickly when we are so accustomed to the noise / chatter that had been constantly enveloping us before our children leave us to pursue the career of their dreams. Coupled together with a situation at which your spouse has to leave you, even for a night, we immediately feel that we become so vulnerable. No one at home to protect us from harm and no one to turn to if anything comes up. This may not be the case for us guys, but what about the girls? I'm sure that not every girl can be the She-Hulk or Superwoman and even I don't dare to say the same for all of the guys. I know a few pansies who are actually incapable of living at home alone. Back to what I was saying, I heard some parents complaining that their children are always out and never come home for lunch / dinner / (whatever activity a family does together) and that they're fine without having their children at home. Stop again and think about what I'm going to say here. I may be right or wrong but it totally depends on the reader. Why they don't worry is because ultimately at the end of the day (or night, whichever you prefer) they know that their children / loved one will come home to them in one piece, safe and sound. For those with children away from home, like my parents, they will never know when will be the last time they'll see me or my brother (given that he's away temporarily now). I will never know what it's like to experience the fear they did when I got robbed at knife-point back then till I have my own children (and I certainly pray that they'll never go through that) and now I finally understand instead of brushing it off as if it was just a walk in a park. I know this may sound a little extreme but anything is possible and now, news of kidnapping / accidents / suicide / murder are all over the place and how can one's parents not think, "What if it's my child?". With this, I'll leave you all to think about what I've said here and I hope that this will shed new light on all who think that your parents are worrying too much or for those who've never experienced this before.