Ramana Rajgopaul from Ramana’s Musings, has recently taken to reading and commenting on my blog posts. I had tip-toed through his musings on many an occasion since I discovered him at Paddy Bloggit’s. Ramana lives in Pune, India, with his wife, son and father. A multi-generational family.
In a recent post: The Empty Nest Syndrome. Ramana spoke about how he and his wife Urmeela went through the empty nest syndrome on three separate occasions. I found this surprising since they like me, he has only one child. I realise that in India, adult children living with parents and grand parents is still quite prevalent and family ties are very strong.
No matter where you live or how many children you have; love, energy, time, heart ache, pride, and worry all go into the caring and nurturing of each individual child. The best gift we can hope to give any child is to raise them with love and self worth, teach them to have respect both for themselves and for their fellow man, while also teaching them to stand on their own two feet independently of their parents. If we achieve that then all the time invested is worthwhile.
It is a nice feeling to have my daughter home when she WANTS to be here and wants to spend time with me rather than because she NEEDS to be, or worse still because I NEED her to be here with me.
I commented on Ramana’s post thus:
I try not to think about empty nests.
My mother died in 1996 at the age of 82, it was ten weeks after a stroke. Since she lived over 100 miles away from me I had problems spending time with her. My husband was ill with cancer at the time. Six weeks after my mother’s death my daughter (one and only) left home for University in Scotland and her dad died a year and a half later.
My home has been quiet since then; it feels like the heart has gone out of it. My daughter visits when ever she can but she has a husband of her own now, a job and home to run. I have been known to say ‘I gave her life and not a life sentence of caring for me!’
I am not a lonely person and make the best of whatever life throws my way. With the internet and blogging the outside world comes in to me. I am so fortunate.
Ramana replied:
@Grannymar, That is a very poignant comment. I wonder if you could consider expanding your last paragraph in one of your posts. I too differentiate between loneliness and solitude. I look forward to every possible occasion when I can have some solitude. I too use the internet and blogging to connect with the outside world.
‘I am not a lonely person and make the best of whatever life throws my way. With the internet and blogging the outside world comes in to me. I am so fortunate.‘
There were four people already living in the house when I first showed my face to the world. My father, mother and two older brothers, within two years we were six and numbers increased until we were eight in total. Added to this was a multitude of relations that covered several generations from both sides of the family who came for rest or recuperation. My mother was a Master Caregiver. This care she gave to everyone without stinting or the help of my father. He saw his role in life as the breadwinner, and once he produced the money to pay for food, clothing and household bills then he was free to rest and read.
We children provided help and there was always plenty to do. Reading and resting were not in my lexicon back then. With so many people in the house and visitors coming and going, it was difficult to find a quiet spot for reflection. I often longed to have a place of my own with no interruption.
My move to Germany in the early 70’s gave me that space and I loved coming home to a quiet apartment where I could hear myself think and not fall over half a dozen pair’s of feet every time I entered a room. I really grew during that time. I learned to really budget with nobody to borrow from when funds were low. We had no mobile phones or PCs then and a letter took nearly five days to reach home. If I had a problem I had to find my own way to deal with it. I worked with and learned from people of many different cultures, creeds and languages.
When I returned home to live in Ireland, three of my brothers were married and living in homes of their own. The house was a little quieter and I had time to rebuild a social life and travel. After a few years I met Jack and we married within the year. My move to Co Antrim was not easy. It was the height of the troubles and I was a ‘stranger’ moving into this town! The natives were very wary of me and my southern accent. It was more difficult to make friends. I way young and in love and made the best of my life. I have outlived the people who were horrible to me and eventually make some friends.
My health issues of the past six years prevent me from working. There are times when I am unable to go out or feel at risk both to myself and to others driving my car, on such days the Internet and blogging are my salvation. The world comes in to me! Blogging has allowed me to meet virtually and personally the most amazing group of diverse people of all ages & persuasions stretched across the globe.
Did you know you were good for my health?
