20
Through the years..
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2014
- - This is originally written on August 20, 2014 -
Yesterday was my parents 30th anniversary. If
there is anything they taught me on keeping the marriage strong is to always
have time for each other.
My mom is a working mother. She sits in the office from 9
-5. With Jakarta’s ruthless traffic, she has to go before 8 am and come home at
6 pm. My dad is a restaurant owner so he has more flexibility in time. Usually
he works at 10 am – 3 pm, and again from 6 pm – 10 pm. Sometimes he goes for
market shopping at 7 am. My mom works 5 times a week, while my dad works
everyday (weekend is the busiest for restaurant).
Do you see the pattern here? How can they see each other
with their schedule?
I must say.. it is often that my mom left before my dad gets
up of bed, and comes home when my dad has left.
But one thing for sure, everyday they make time to see each
other. My dad always wakes up early in the morning to see my mom off to office,
and come back to sleep ha ha. My mom always wait for my dad before going to
bed, eventho’ she really tired and sometimes fall asleep while waiting (in
front of TV).
During weekend they always make time to go out, have dinner,
groceries shopping; even if that means my dad has to leave his business during
busy hour. And even if that means my mom has to wake up early to accompany my
dad doing shopping to traditional market (hot, dirty, and wet kind of market).
Lesson 1: Always always always make time for each other
--
My family celebrate everything. I mean, we always have cakes
for every birthday and anniversary. We never missed the cake. Never missed the
blowing candle and cake cutting. We almost never missed eating birthday noodle,
even in anniversary celebration.
Starting with yesterday (19 Aug) is my parent anniversary,
another 2 weeks is Tomo’s birthday (30 Aug), another 1 week is my dad’s
birthday (5 Sept), and ended by mom’s birthday 11 days after (16 Sept). Phewhh…
4 cakes checked for the next one month. xD~
Other than cakes, we almost always eating out. I said almost
because yesterday we couldn’t go out since it fell on weekday and Grace needs
to be ready in bed at 8 PM. But before Grace was born, we always eat out for
birthday, even if it fall on weekdays. No need fancy and expensive restaurant.
As long as we eat to celebrate together is enough.
Next is presents! I always receive present during my
birthday even until now. Not only me, they also often give each other presents.
Imagine being married for 30 years and every year they give each other
presents! Even me who just married for 2 years didn’t give my husband present
last year (shame on me, haha :p).
Lesson 2. Love and Celebrate
--
They have different view of sickness. My dad thinks that
even small sickness requires medicine / goes to doctor. While my mom thinks
that our body shall be able to heal itself and create antibody, thus no need
medicine/doctor. That is why my dad is very fussy when any family member is
sick, especially my mom. He will keep telling her to go to doctors and she will
say no unless the condition is serious. Good thing is he keeps asking how she
is until she is healed, or he will drag my mom to see doctor. And because my
mom doesn’t like doctor (I think) so she keeps telling my dad to eat healthily,
eat slowly, and drink supplement. Looking for each other health is one of their
priorities. After all healthy body means happy family, and healthy family means
happy marriage, right?
Lesson 3. Caring through good times and bad times
--
Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad
May your marriage always be blessed
Dinner at home |