So the trip with Mum to Bangkok was good. Some things never change. She still held my hand when crossing the crazy roads of BKK. Nagged me about the weight of my bags. I still had to rag her a little about buying stuff she wants (obviously I did not inherit the virtue of thrift and the love of retail therapy from my mum, hah!).

Some things don’t change. For a very good reason perhaps.

Dad came to pick us up. My protests to take a cab home myself fell on deaf ears. Their place is in the East while I am in the West. Essentially, he will have to drive past their place to mine and then back again. At night. Sigh.

And my parents refused to let me carry my bags myself. Both nagged me about the heavy backpack I have on. Both wanted me to just earn that cushy salary as an employee and don’t understand why I have to go through so much difficulties to do my own business. But still they are helping in their own little ways.

***

The last time when we travelled together, I was a child. Now she has white hairs and I am pushing 30. Now I am the one making the travel itineraries and bringing her to places to eat, chill out and make her “lao hua” glasses. Now I am the one ragging her about stuff, and worrying about her calcium pills and stuff.

Now I am the one thinking about how to take care of her in the later years. It feels strange.

But my mum (and dad) are fiercely independent. Any attempts to give them more money than the monthly pocket money will be given back to the grandkids in the form of “putting in their bank accounts” or “buying clothes”. They have their own house. They have their own car, investments and financial planning. Hell, I have to argue with my mum to pay for her facial and stuff in BKK.

I think my folks are uniquely weird. I have heard of parents who grumble about more money and such, but I have not heard of folks like mine.

How about your parents? Care to share?