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p B's Blogs >> From Seedlings to Servings Parents

This was narrated by an IAF pilot to IIT students during a Seminar on
Human Relations:

Venkatesh Balasubramaniam (who works for IIT) describes how his gesture
of booking an air ticket for his father, his maiden

flight, brought forth a rush of emotions and made him (Venkatesh)
realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our
parents.

My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the
airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air
before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the
same. In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them
tickets on Jet Airways. The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he
was surprised to see that I had booked them by air. The excitement was
very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a
school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the
airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage
check-in and asking for a window seat and waiting restlessly for the
security check-in to happen. He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I,
too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.

As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to
me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and
it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this
meant a great deal to him.

When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me. But
later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life. As
a child, how many dreams our parents have made come true.
Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for cricket bats,

dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they
have catered to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices

they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes? Did we ever say
thanks for all that they have done for us? Same way, today when it
comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a
good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that
we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we
tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to
see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams
are realized and what they failed to see when they were young. It is
our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their
life is complete.

Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have
actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me
something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they
would have felt at those moments.

Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take
care of our children, the same attention and same care needs to be
given to our parents and elders. Rather than my dad saying thank you to
me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this
small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I
will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their
wishes.

Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up
everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have
wishes, too.

Take care of your parents. THEY ARE PRECIOUS