On the day when you see me old, weak and weary,
have patience and try to understand me.
If I get dirty when eating, If I can not dress on my own,
please bear with me and remember the times I spent feeding you and
dressing you up.If, when I speak to you, I repeat the same things
over and over again, do not interrupt me. Listen to me. When you were small, I
had to read to you the same story A thousand and one times until you went to sleep.
When I do not want to have a shower, neither shame nor scold me.
Remember when I had to chase you with your thousand excuses
to get you to the shower?
When you see my ignorance of new technologies,
help me navigate my way through those world wide webs.
I taught you how to do so
many things, to eat the right foods, to dress appropriately,
to fight for your rights.
When at some moment I lose the memory or the thread of our conversation,
let me have the necessary time to remember. And if I can
not, do not become nervous, as the most important thing is not our conversation,
but surely to be with you and to have you
listening to me.If ever I do not feel like eating,
do not force me. I know well when I need to and when not to eat.
When my tired legs give way and do not allow me to walk without a cane,
lend me your hand. The same way I did when you tried your
first faltering steps.
And when someday I say to you, that I do not want to live any more,
that I want to die, do not get angry. Some day you will
understand. Try to understand that my age is not just lived but survived.
Some day you will realize that, despite my mistakes,
I always wanted the best for you and I tried to prepare the way for you. You
must not feel sad, angry nor ashamed for having me near you.
Instead, try to understand me and help me like I did when you were young.
Help me to walk. Help me to live the rest of my life with love and dignity.
I will pay you with a smile and by the immense love I
have always had for you in my heart.
I love you child.
