Thursday, June 12, 2008

On Empty Nests and Dogs

My younger sister got married last May and is no longer staying with us. Our youngest sibling studies in the other island and goes home only during weekends or school breaks. My only brother left home for his board review in Manila, just yesterday. This left only my parents and I having dinner together tonight. Their four children who are all grown up now started to leave home except for the eldest, who happens to be me, who is "overstaying" at home. Nevertheless, only my parents are left for dinners when i am on a 24-hr duty since our helper goes to a night school.

Despite of being "autistic", i felt the silence at home. I feel for my parents whom, for 31 years were used to a not so quiet family dinners. During weekdays, it is only during dinner when we could gather all together and talk about our different lives. No longer now. I may attempt to talk about my work at the hospital but the not so talkative me would definitely tire out if noone's going to say his or her piece too. What happens would be just a mere exchange of words either between my mom and i or my dad and i - well, they happen to be together all the time so they could only share the same story.

Is this what happens when all the children have grown up? My parents are currently experiencing the empty nest syndrome. I knew this when heard mom and dad cracked a joke when they drove me to the hospital for duty one morning. A joke that made me ponder about my future. There are four of us in the family, only one got married but now, my parents are left on their own. They were joking that they will be once again childless come dinner time. I jokingly answered that they still have their youngest child with them. I suggested that they could let our dog , who feels and thinks that he is a human being and a part of our family, sit at the dinner table with them. They both gave out a good laugh. Well, at least i was able to lift their spirits up in a way.

As i walk away from the car, i realized that having four children in the family is not enough. For when everyone grows up, noone will be left at home. Does this mean that i would want a bigger family if i'll have my own? Nah! What i only wanted to say is that, even if i would have a dozen kids, i too would want to have a dog. Why a dog? It doesn't go to school, therefore, need not be away for a board review thereby, can't find a job that might render it to go on a 24-hour duty at the hospital. Also, dogs dont get married and leave home. Yep! I would want to have a dog.hehe

9 comments:

Bonedoc said...

Not a dog!

OT:
The Blog Rounds 13th edition is up too, in my newly "uncluttered" site, The Orthopedic Logbook. Read the some sort of survey, here.

And please don't forget to vote ( yep, the poll beside my tag board widget, on the second column of my sidebar) about TBR's round up frequency.

The Blog Rounds 12.75 Edition is also up at Meloink's Blog, The Philippine Daily Idiot. Lets get the nosebleed out of PMA!

Lastly, Em Dy's deadline for the 14th edition for TBR (paging Doc Hollywood) is fast approaching. Don't forget to submit your post s for this TBR edition.

Bonedoc said...

(Back with my "real" comment).

Funny, but I think I can relate to your "empty nest" thoughts...I live with my mom still, technically, with all of my siblings getting married and had their kids and their houses with on their own. But every weekends our families eat dinner together and we talk about this stuff laughing at the dinner table. On weekends, we are like zombies we barely can talk as we do before!

But that is how life goes....

A dozen kids? Or just a dog?

Unknown said...

On my part, it's just my Mom and I who's left at home. As much as I want to live separately I couldn't, mainly because I'm the eldest and is responsible for my Mom now that Dad has left us. While it may have its disadvantages, at least we get to talk more during dinner and as a plus, someone gets to cook food and wash my clothes, mwehehe.

As for a dog, yes in a way they're better than human companions. At least they love you unconditionally and don't complain as much... ;-)

AngelMD-No-More said...

bone md: the reason i guess why we are still staying with our parents is because our profession prolonged our "adolescent" years.hehe too bad, we get to experience this "empty nest syndrome" with them.

rudy: haha so, who's the luckier one now? ur mom - having u as her companion? or u - with ur mom as ur cook?hehehe i agree with having the dog...hehe

Mayet said...

Cel! You forgot to cross post this to your Multiply. Hahaha! Tingala ko man wala update kay :) Teh, ikaw ya san-o? San-o makwa dog! Hehe!

AngelMD-No-More said...

hahaha gabisyo b ang multiply last time meyms. i usually make my posts in multiply then cross-link them in blogger.hehe d dog at home is mine...hehe i might bring it with me...hehehe oh well, only wen my parents will have another focus of attention...bata ni christy...hehe pero daw wala pa gapon.hehe

rheiboy17 said...

angelmd, ok na sana ang dog, kaso hindi matagal ang buhay niyan, so pagnagtagal, hahanap ka rin ng tao.....

alam ko na, para maging maingay ang bahay ulit, kailangan nila ng apo.

ganyang ganyan sa bahay dahil lima kami at lahat ay propesyunal na. kaya yung mga apo na ang ingay sa bahay at saya sa mga lola....

rheiboy17 said...

angelmd, ok na sana ang dog, kaso hindi matagal ang buhay niyan, so pagnagtagal, hahanap ka rin ng tao.....

alam ko na, para maging maingay ang bahay ulit, kailangan nila ng apo.

ganyang ganyan sa bahay dahil lima kami at lahat ay propesyunal na. kaya yung mga apo na ang ingay sa bahay at saya sa mga lola....

AngelMD-No-More said...

rheiboy17: thanks for dropping by...i guess the "apo" is coming soon...thanks for my sister who dared to thread married life ahead of me. oh i just cant imagine how happy my folks were when they heard the news.hehe