Respect Your Parents (A Must-Read Short Story)
The son decided to keep his mother in an assisted living facility when his father died and visited her occasionally.
Once he got a call from an assisted living facility. Mom, I mean it. Please come visit.
The son went to see his mother who was in serious condition and close to death.
“What can I do for you Mom?” he asked.
“Please install ventilators in the retirement home because there are none,” Mom said. Also, installed a fridge to improve food quality as I often go to bed hungry.
The son was taken aback and said, “Mom, you never complained when you were here. Now that you have a few hours left, why are you telling me all this?”
Mom said, “It’s okay honey, I can handle the heat and hunger and suffering. But I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it when the children bring you here!”
She encouraged me to be careful of what I left behind and explained that she wanted to update the nursing home because she was afraid that one day my children might leave me there and I would go through what she did.
According to her parting remarks, “What you give is what you get.”
This short story serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and struggles our parents endure, often without complaint, and the inevitable cycle of life that may one day find us in their position. The son’s initial indifference to his mother’s suffering in an assisted living facility underscores the common human tendency to overlook the needs of others, especially those who are older or less vocal. However, his mother’s final request is a powerful awakening. She asks not for luxury, but rather for basic comfort and dignity—simple things that might have made her final days more bearable.
Her message, especially in her final moments, reflects the profound truth that what we leave others, especially our parents, can come back to us when we are older. She wants to make sure her son understands the importance of compassion and care, especially if he finds himself in the same vulnerable position one day. Her words about the heat, hunger, and suffering she experienced, along with her plea for better living conditions for future residents, are a profound reflection of empathy and the reality of aging.
The conclusion of the story – “What you give is what you get” – is a timeless lesson about reciprocity, love, and respect. It emphasizes the need for kindness and fairness in how we deal with elders.
As the son reflects on his mother’s words, we are reminded that the way we care for those who cared for us can affect the quality of our own experiences later in life. In the end, this is a story not just about filial duty, but about the universal truth that compassion, generosity, and respect should always be passed on because it is these values that truly define the legacy we leave behind.