You may be wondering why and how on earth could these unimportant and inexpensive items could make me wail like a baby yesterday evening. Yes, I did. I cried like a baby.
I was watching this Japanese series "I'm Old Enough". It is a programme that shows small Japanese children who were given tasks to perform on their own, i.e. running errands. When I was watching it, I wondered if my children could carry out the tasks, if we were picked to be in the show. Hmm...
What made the water-tap turned on was when they showed a family who has lost the father. The mom was struggling to make ends meet and they live hand to mouth. They couldn't even afford to own a dustpan (as shown in the pict), their dustbin lid was broken and the mother yearned for a tissue roller (similar to picture above) as one of her Christmas wish. So, as the task for the show, the mom gave her children (a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son) 6000 yen (equivalent to 10 days of food money) to spend at the supermarket for christmas. The mom did not mention what to purchase, the task was solely on her 2 small kids. Off they went in the afternoon, younger brother complaining of back-ache due to the heavy bag. Yet, the sister was very patient in coaxing her brother to move on, rubbing his back as they walked to their destination.
Once they reached the supermarket, they went straight to the dustbin. They insisted on purchasing what their mom had yearned even though the sales assisstant tried to persuade them to purchase a cheaper bin. Then, they headed to but the dustpan and the toilet roll. then, off they went to the cashier. I was deeply moved to note that neither of them had wanted to buy anything for themselves. Not even a candy bar to munch on their way home.
Their journey was rather long and tiring, and it was dark when they reached home. Their mom was crying to see them home, tired with lugging the things up and down the hill. I cried too seeing them hugged their mother and proudly show their purchases.
I was very touched to see the sibblings so cooperative and took care of each other. I guess leading a difficult life does have its advantages. It also made me realise that I should be grateful for all life's leisure, be it small or big. I am. Alhmadulillah....
I was watching this Japanese series "I'm Old Enough". It is a programme that shows small Japanese children who were given tasks to perform on their own, i.e. running errands. When I was watching it, I wondered if my children could carry out the tasks, if we were picked to be in the show. Hmm...
What made the water-tap turned on was when they showed a family who has lost the father. The mom was struggling to make ends meet and they live hand to mouth. They couldn't even afford to own a dustpan (as shown in the pict), their dustbin lid was broken and the mother yearned for a tissue roller (similar to picture above) as one of her Christmas wish. So, as the task for the show, the mom gave her children (a 5-year-old daughter and a 3-year-old son) 6000 yen (equivalent to 10 days of food money) to spend at the supermarket for christmas. The mom did not mention what to purchase, the task was solely on her 2 small kids. Off they went in the afternoon, younger brother complaining of back-ache due to the heavy bag. Yet, the sister was very patient in coaxing her brother to move on, rubbing his back as they walked to their destination.
Once they reached the supermarket, they went straight to the dustbin. They insisted on purchasing what their mom had yearned even though the sales assisstant tried to persuade them to purchase a cheaper bin. Then, they headed to but the dustpan and the toilet roll. then, off they went to the cashier. I was deeply moved to note that neither of them had wanted to buy anything for themselves. Not even a candy bar to munch on their way home.
Their journey was rather long and tiring, and it was dark when they reached home. Their mom was crying to see them home, tired with lugging the things up and down the hill. I cried too seeing them hugged their mother and proudly show their purchases.
I was very touched to see the sibblings so cooperative and took care of each other. I guess leading a difficult life does have its advantages. It also made me realise that I should be grateful for all life's leisure, be it small or big. I am. Alhmadulillah....
