My sister's perspective.

[manequine]

Last Sunday evening, my younger sister, who runs an operation in Pochun area, came to see my mother. I heard that she was very busy meeting the dead line for the shipment of her products. She and her husband has been producing bathing goods for domestic and oversea markets on an OEM basis. Though she doesn’t lead an affluent live, she looks happier than anyone else around her. The problem is her two children, who graduated from university, have not yet found jobs they want. When I brought it up, she still showed me positive attitude;“Otherwise, I’ll give him a needed train and let him work in my factory.”

What makes her life more difficult is her daughter suffering from dyslexia. As I know, she has no special problem living with others, but she tends to leave herself alone, if possible. Her introversion makes her mixing with other people difficult, so she wants to find a job free from any interference. Since her graduation, she has been trying various kinds of jobs regardless of her university major in vain. According to my sister, she has much interest in running a small coffee shop for herself, which motivated her to take a course of being a barrister

Meantimes, my sister seemed to exactly read my situation. I live with my mother away from my wife depending on my small income. When I told her that I don’t want my wife any more to take care of our mother, she didn’t accept my decision easily. “Your sister-in-law is so burned out that she needs some rest for a while.”

Anyway, my wife is staying with a pet dog after converting our old house into her office lately. She came to see my mother once a month, and my children, in turn, stayed with her during weekends. I am adjusting myself to a novel circumstance testing whether or not I can help myself in a new way. If I finish the test, I will leave Seoul with no hesitation.

A life living near a mountain in the countryside has been my longtime desire. In fact, the only thing I can do best is interact with mountains, so I have a strong mind to spend the rest of my life walking in the mountain. I think that’s the best way to lead my life without any help from my wife. Then, I’d like to be buried somewhere in the mountain.

After a little hesitation, my sis suggested that I move to her place and work for her. It was such a sudden suggestion I said I need time to consider. I think she may share my mother care with me for once and all. Both my sisters have been excluded from my mother’s attention and love, complaining our mother has never been separated from her only son. They used to say her first and last interest has been in my happiness and health, with them put outside her mind. “Mother has never been my mother. She never spent even one night in my home.”

My mother has been well balanced between her daughters and her sister-in-law in every respect. She didn’t side lopsidedly with her daughter facing any conflict between them. She was wise enough to know she will spend more time with her sister-in-law than her daughters. Nonetheless, the reason I cannot accept my sister’s suggestion is that I don’t want put any burden on her, in particular, economically. It think it my duty to look after my mother, which is not to be compromised with anyone. However, to be honest, I hope that she can support me when I cannot afford medical expense. My sister offered to pay for the cost spent on MRI Test my mother got a week day ago as if to scan my brain. I got the feeling that the rest of my life would be less lonelier.

[Brenda]

읽으시는 내내 선생님 의견에 반대하고 싶었으나....
욕심없으신 선생님의 모습이 어쩌면 먼저 손을 내밀고 오빠를 생각하는 여동생분과 배려심가득한 어머님과 일맥상통하는 가족의 특성이 아닐까 하고 짐작해봅니다. 앞으로도 잘 이끌어 가시겠지만 지금까지 가족의 큰 기둥이 되어주셨던 선생님께 아낌없는 박수를 보냅니다!!

[lina]

흠... 브렌다 댓글을 읽어보니 공감이 가네요.
받은 걸 따지지 않고 자신의 도리를 다하려고 하는 동생분의 따뜻한 마음 덕분에 선생님 어깨가 한결 가벼워졌다니 참 고마운 일입니다. ^^

[행복한 인생]

힘 내세요. 꿈꾸는 대로 되실걸 확신합니다~