Caring for my Caregiver
This afternoon, as I was immersed in my Physiology textbook, my phone rang and I saw my mother’s name flash across the screen. I picked up immediately, wondering what she had to say today.
"Hello Ebe Mummy," she greeted with a tired voice. I didn't finish responding when she cut in "I have this terrible body pain and I'm getting sick. Please, help me prescribe some medicine?"
My jaw dropped in disbelief. I'm barely surviving out here in a zoo of a school, I inhaled and replied, "Mummy, I'm just a physiology student. I can't prescribe." Breathing a sigh of relief, I continued "Well, I have a better idea. Why don't you go to the doctor? They can make the right diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment and drugs."
She didn't seem satisfied, hesitantly I suggested an antibiotic for her with the advice that she confirms from her doctor first, at last, the woman exhaled as if letting out the pains in gratefulness.
I couldn’t help but smile at her gratitude to me. Sometimes parents could be so stubborn, but deep down, they always wanted the best for us.
When I hung up, I couldn’t imagine how the roles in our relationship would change. I wasn’t just their child; I would be their keeper too. As our parents grow older, our care and concern for them become more important.
Maybe I'm ready, maybe I'm not, eventually, I'll grow into the role of a CAREGIVER.
"Hello Ebe Mummy," she greeted with a tired voice. I didn't finish responding when she cut in "I have this terrible body pain and I'm getting sick. Please, help me prescribe some medicine?"
My jaw dropped in disbelief. I'm barely surviving out here in a zoo of a school, I inhaled and replied, "Mummy, I'm just a physiology student. I can't prescribe." Breathing a sigh of relief, I continued "Well, I have a better idea. Why don't you go to the doctor? They can make the right diagnosis and prescribe the right treatment and drugs."
She didn't seem satisfied, hesitantly I suggested an antibiotic for her with the advice that she confirms from her doctor first, at last, the woman exhaled as if letting out the pains in gratefulness.
I couldn’t help but smile at her gratitude to me. Sometimes parents could be so stubborn, but deep down, they always wanted the best for us.
When I hung up, I couldn’t imagine how the roles in our relationship would change. I wasn’t just their child; I would be their keeper too. As our parents grow older, our care and concern for them become more important.
Maybe I'm ready, maybe I'm not, eventually, I'll grow into the role of a CAREGIVER.
