Mom was forced to close down in order for family togetherness to continue.
"I built this business from nothing, and just when it is about to start thriving, you are asking me to shut down and move to your new place of assignment, station, or whatever you call it." I heard my mom say to my dad with a very loud voice.
designed in canva.
"You know the nature of my job; I am nearly never around. The kids need you to look after them, and if we leave you behind all in the name of business, then who looks after the kids?" My dad asked
"You know I have sacrificed a lot already for this family. I gave up my nursing career for this family, and now I am forced to travel a road less traveled because who closes down a thriving business for no good reason? To me, moving is not a good enough reason to shut down my business, like it is nothing after all; it is not me that was posted out." Mom said
Dad, who is a soldier, has just been posted to a new station and was trying to explain things to mom as to why she should have it in the back of her mind that after he reports to the new station he will be coming back, and we all will have to leave everything behind and follow him. They had a little fight over the issue.
"But why is it me that always has to make the sacrifice? What happens to you not reporting to your new station or not accepting to serve at a new station? You know how long it took to get this business up and running." Mom said
"We have been married for years; you know that is not how this works. When you join the army, the army owns you and cuts you no slack at all. You know it is not up to me to decide." Dad responded
My siblings and I were already feeling really bad. She has to be the one making all the big sacrifices. No doubt dad had his life on the line all the time for family, but her complaints made hers hurt the most. Her dream of becoming a nurse was achieved, but not for long. She had to let go so she could look after us since Dad was never around. Now she has settled to run her own business, and the same job and people that tampered with her dream of serving humanity as a nurse are trying to terminate it.
"Okay, how about the kids and I stay back while you serve in your new station?" Mom asked
"I really do not like the idea of living apart. I assure you that once we get to my new station, I will ensure we try to get your business up and running." Dad responded
It was heavy for her to bear, and she did everything possible to see that we didn't take this one away from her, but my dad preferred we live together, so he assured her about putting her back in business once we got to his new station. I have seen families that live apart, and it was all for reasons like this: their dad had to leave them behind just because their mother did not have to close down or leave her job, but my dad keeps saying he was not raised like that and won't let his kids be raised like that.
"Closing down this business is really going to hurt me, but I will have to do it for the sake of the kids. I really won't want another person to look after my kids; if not, I would have suggested a nanny while I stay back and take care of my business." Mom said
After the whole discussion, mom finally agreed to travel the road less traveled, shut down her business, and we moved to dad's new station, where, like always, he was sent on an assignment and did not even get the chance to put mom back in business like he promised. Things went sour for the family because mom's business was also serving as a financial pillar, but we managed to pull through.