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Right now I’m on a train from southern Poland to north-western Germany, about 1200 kilometres apart, after visiting my family, as I do about twice a year, and g

by iammjm 2y ago

Right now I’m on a train from southern Poland to north-western Germany, about 1200 kilometres apart, after visiting my family, as I do about twice a year, and going back to where I live and work. My parents have both passed 60 recently. How many more such visits will I yet get to spend with them? Thank you for this submission, very well timed for me, and made me tear up a bit, but also made me appreciate my folks even more. It’s up to us to make the best of the time we and the people we love still have left with each other

noneeeed 2y ago
We really don't appreciate how little time we get with our parents once we grow up and move away. It comes in snatches and moments, and then they are no more. I wish I'd spent more quality time with mine while I could. I feel like I didn't start really talking to my dad until the last few years of his life. I didn't realise how much I had to ask them both until they were gone.
- jaymzcampbell 2y ago
  > I wish I'd spent more quality time with mine while I could Absolutely! My parents were never always that healthy but would love a long walk and meander. I had a period where I didn't go home for a few years and when I finally saw them again it was shocking how much they'd declined. A couple more years since and now they can barely walk more than 10 meters without stopping in pain. Now it's so bad we can't even walk to a corner shop nearby. When I think back that only a few years ago I could've gone on a long walk through London with my father, it stings. Now it's a case of "what next" with their health. Of course it seems like you have to learn this lesson "for real" for it to sink in, which is the sad bit about life...
- ponector 2y ago
  Only if you have a good relationship with parents. Many people don't want to spend any time with family, moving to the other city as soon as possible.
pjmlp 2y ago
I left Portugal and have been around other European countries since the early 2000's, also do similar trips back home, already lost many dear relatives including one of my parents, yes it hits hard, and makes one wonder how to sort out this kind of issues. It is also one of the reasons why I no longer take jobs without remote option across Europe, not only the country where the company is located (naturally as long as I can afford to be picky). All the best.

by iammjm 2y ago

noneeeed 2y ago

We really don't appreciate how little time we get with our parents once we grow up and move away. It comes in snatches and moments, and then they are no more. I wish I'd spent more quality time with mine while I could. I feel like I didn't start really talking to my dad until the last few years of his life. I didn't realise how much I had to ask them both until they were gone.

jaymzcampbell 2y ago
> I wish I'd spent more quality time with mine while I could Absolutely! My parents were never always that healthy but would love a long walk and meander. I had a period where I didn't go home for a few years and when I finally saw them again it was shocking how much they'd declined. A couple more years since and now they can barely walk more than 10 meters without stopping in pain. Now it's so bad we can't even walk to a corner shop nearby. When I think back that only a few years ago I could've gone on a long walk through London with my father, it stings. Now it's a case of "what next" with their health. Of course it seems like you have to learn this lesson "for real" for it to sink in, which is the sad bit about life...
ponector 2y ago
Only if you have a good relationship with parents. Many people don't want to spend any time with family, moving to the other city as soon as possible.

pjmlp 2y ago

I left Portugal and have been around other European countries since the early 2000's, also do similar trips back home, already lost many dear relatives including one of my parents, yes it hits hard, and makes one wonder how to sort out this kind of issues. It is also one of the reasons why I no longer take jobs without remote option across Europe, not only the country where the company is located (naturally as long as I can afford to be picky). All the best.