i am not a child!
living at home as an adult is definitely a struggle
don't get me wrong. i'm really happy that i can help out the family now that i'm working and making $. and i totally appreciate the care i get from my parents who do the groceries, make my meals and pack a lunch for me everyday. but both of them being retired means that they've got a lot of free time and with my sister married and my bro in berk, i'm the only kid at home. so for better or worse, i get all their loving attention. which means i hear about everything i'm doing wrong -- mostly, staying up too late and going out too much. (funny, when i was always at home before, i was encouraged to go out more...)
But it's frustrating feeling like there's always a battle between what i want/need to do and what they want me to do (what i need to do to keep them happy). to feel guilty everytime i go out. to always be on a see-saw between being considered 孝順 (dutiful) and not. and how that all affects the atmosphere when i'm home (brr...chilly!). and when i Am at home, we're all usually in our own rooms, doing our own things anyhow! so what's the point?
But when all's said and done, i'm reminded that i really should treasure this time that i get with my parents. after all, they're not gonna be around forever and i won't have a chance to live with (& spend this much time with & have this much access to) them in the future. i don't normally do New Year's resolutions, but i'm making one now. i resolve to set aside quality time to spend with my 'rents weekly. [is that SMART enuf, sherry? ;)]
Today was the first day, and it wasn't bad. I helped out in the yard, did some groceries w/my mom, worked out w/my mom, helped fix dinner, and then watched some tv w/my mom. nice. and my 'rents love k-dramas (in fact, my dad's been trying to get me to watch with him for ages...so now i actually have a really good reason to watch!) and after a pretty hectic week, it was actually a refreshing change of pace as well as being really productive. go figure.
don't get me wrong. i'm really happy that i can help out the family now that i'm working and making $. and i totally appreciate the care i get from my parents who do the groceries, make my meals and pack a lunch for me everyday. but both of them being retired means that they've got a lot of free time and with my sister married and my bro in berk, i'm the only kid at home. so for better or worse, i get all their loving attention. which means i hear about everything i'm doing wrong -- mostly, staying up too late and going out too much. (funny, when i was always at home before, i was encouraged to go out more...)
But it's frustrating feeling like there's always a battle between what i want/need to do and what they want me to do (what i need to do to keep them happy). to feel guilty everytime i go out. to always be on a see-saw between being considered 孝順 (dutiful) and not. and how that all affects the atmosphere when i'm home (brr...chilly!). and when i Am at home, we're all usually in our own rooms, doing our own things anyhow! so what's the point?
But when all's said and done, i'm reminded that i really should treasure this time that i get with my parents. after all, they're not gonna be around forever and i won't have a chance to live with (& spend this much time with & have this much access to) them in the future. i don't normally do New Year's resolutions, but i'm making one now. i resolve to set aside quality time to spend with my 'rents weekly. [is that SMART enuf, sherry? ;)]
Today was the first day, and it wasn't bad. I helped out in the yard, did some groceries w/my mom, worked out w/my mom, helped fix dinner, and then watched some tv w/my mom. nice. and my 'rents love k-dramas (in fact, my dad's been trying to get me to watch with him for ages...so now i actually have a really good reason to watch!) and after a pretty hectic week, it was actually a refreshing change of pace as well as being really productive. go figure.
posted by ss @ 11:11 PM
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