I’m the oldest of my eight siblings. When I was young, I did the housework and took care of my younger siblings on behalf of my working parents. My mom worked shifts as a certified nurse assistant. So, once she went to work, I couldn’t see her for thirty-two hours, sometimes sixty-eight hours. I prepared meals for her, washed and ironed her nurse clothes so that she could rest comfortably when she got home from work. She used to ask me like this.
“My love, thank you for being my right hand. Help your younger siblings get ready for school. When you walk with them to the bus stop, make sure they are all in front of you and follow them to protect them. And when your dad gets home from work, treat him like a king.”
My dad who used to be a truck driver, was so exhausted that he couldn’t even take off his shoes when he got home from working long hours. I took off his shoes from his swollen feet, prepared water for a shower, and made some toast. Also I prepared insulin shots as he has diabetes. When my mom came home from work, my dad went back to work.
Although my parents were busy, they spent time with us on their days off. They cooked delicious dishes for us, and drove us to places with beautiful natural scenery. On the days of our sports games, they cheered us the loudest in the stands. My parents never took a break for themselves like that. They worked endlessly to give love and laughter to their eight children. But, I didn’t think about my parents’ hard work, and sometimes complained, saying, “Why me? Why do I have to do everything? Why do I have to babysit my younger siblings? Can’t they do something?”
My parents entrusted me with the housework and my younger siblings, but I had such immature thoughts. How hard it must have been for my parents to feed and dress their eight children. In retrospect, it was a blessing for me to be able to help my parents as the oldest child. Because that time trained me and the experience of that time has become good nutrients for me now.
No matter how difficult it is, the time never goes in vain. I give thanks to God for allowing me to live such a life so that I can deeply understand my parents’ endless love and follow their example.