by Lourds Adalia-Evertse - Restaurateur & Entrepreneur Mentor
Have you ever had a heated argument with your mum or dad lately? How did you feel at that moment? It can be an emotional rollercoaster; feeling frustrated and angry at the moment, but then later realising how lucky you are to have them in your life.
I want to share with you my story and how I wish I could have your problem.
When I was in my mid-20s, I lost my mum in a car accident. It was unexpected and left me feeling like there were so many words that I wanted to say to her but never had the chance. We'd had our fair share of arguments before, but it's only now that I truly understand the depth of her love for me.
Since then, my life has changed drastically. I got married, had kids, and achieved success in my career, but it's been difficult not having my mum here to share in those moments with me.
A few years later, my dad passed away due to illness. While it was something I had prepared myself for, it was something I wouldn't wish on anyone. Life must go on without them and it's been difficult adjusting to a new normal without them in my life.
In my eulogy at my dad's funeral, I said that the hardest thing in life is not failing an exam, losing your job, or having a breakup. “The hardest thing in life is waking up and realising that you don't have your parents anymore.” There is no one who will support and be proud of you no matter what you do in life.
We all go through ups and downs in life and it's inevitable that we'll have disagreements with our parents. But it's important to remember that there are others out there who don't have this luxury and would give anything to be able to experience even just one argument with their mum or dad.
I remember once when I was younger, my mum and I had a disagreement about a lot of small things. We both held our ground, but we also both knew that, at the end of the day, we would always love each other no matter what. In hindsight, I miss those little arguments because it reminds me that, even though she and dad are no longer here with us, their love is still alive and well within me.
Life is precious and it's important to remember to appreciate the time you have with your parents. Make sure you take the time to let them know how much they mean to you while they're still here with us. Don't take any moment for granted as you never know when it could be your last conversation with them.
At the end of the day, our parents are human too and they want us to be happy and successful just as much as we want them to be proud of us. Sure, arguments can come up from time to time but what matters is that we always come back together with understanding and respect for one another.