The Best Support System

A colleague once said that for a working mom to be able to work, she needs a good support system back home. A good support system in which she could rely on to take care of the house and the kids while she’s away to work. At first I didn’t understand what he meant, but later I understand and realize who has been my support system all this time.

When Chandra and I were house hunting, one of the most important point that he highlighted was the distance between our future house with our parent’s house. For me to be able to continue to work, he wanted someone reliable to take care of the kids. What he truly meant with reliable is safety. And his definition of safety was the kids to stay with one of our parents while we went to work. So with our budget and safety criteria in mind, the options are limited. We were lucky that our aunt were willing to sell her old house to us. The location was perfect, near my parent’s house. Although the price was above our budget, but we took the house anyway.

I never realize that our decision to live nearby our parents would make them our support system and would change their life and the way they live their life. I thought that by putting our kids at my parent’s house along with their nannies, the problem is solved. And my parents can continue with their business as usual and our kids would not interfere in any sort of ways. Well, it didn’t work that way. The love they had for their grandchildren have made them to manage their schedule around their schedule. Both of my parents are still working (independently) and they somehow manage their schedule to match my kid’s schedule. They even sometimes drop their meetings if there’s an emergency regarding their grandchildren.

Which is happening today, Alika was sick and she needed to go to the doctor while I can’t have a day leave. Because I’m a freshmen, I’ve only been working for the company for 2 months and had no leave allowance yet. So my mom was there to save me and Alika. One more time.

Maybe I was too naïve, maybe I was too ignorant; to think that my parent’s life would go on the same as they were before without the grandchildren around. I know I’m being irresponsible. But I had the best support system I could ever wish for. Your sacrifice would not go to waste, Ibu & Babeh. I love you, Ibu and Babeh.