Monday, March 18, 2024

TIME FOR SENIORS TO 'THINK OUTSIDE THE CASKET'

Take the initiative to explore new horizons and never let our age stop us from trying new things that interest us.

Old age creeps up on us, and seems to speed up after we have passed the 70th milestone.

One fine morning, we wake up, look in the mirror and reality hits us literally in the face – we are no longer spring chicks, more like autumn turkeys! Where have all those years gone?

The thought of mortality is always there, unexpressed but silently acknowledged. Until the first signs of aches and pain remind us the clock is ticking away.

How do we want to spend our remaining years? By slowing down, by giving up fun activities for more serious ones as befitting our age, and according to society’s playbook? If this is what makes us happy and gives us peace of mind, by all means, go ahead.

But if in our hearts we want to sing, dance and celebrate life, and we are still able to do so, let’s just do it! Let’s break free from the shackles of social stigmas or self-imposed restrictions that are holding us back.

We all need a wake-up call sometimes before it’s too late and we are staring at Death from a hospital bed. Do we want to spend the rest of our lives merely existing instead of living?

The fastest way to speed up the ageing process is to think we are old and ready to die. We all have to die one day, but that shouldn’t stop us from having fun, adventure, romance and happiness while we still draw breath.

Live with no regrets

We’ve heard it before: 60 is the new 40 and 70 the new 50. Yet, there are many among us senior citizens who view themselves as 60 going on 80, and 70 going on 90. They think old, look old and act old. No wonder they feel they already have one foot in the grave.

We are not sixteen going on seventeen with a whole life ahead of us. Rather, we are heading towards the boarding gate for final departure. Let’s board with bagsful of happy memories, not regrets.

When we think we are old, we are. Our thoughts are very powerful. They govern how we behave and react. Upon reaching 60, there are those among us who retire not just from our jobs, but from everything that used to define who they are.

The first thing they give up is their physical appearance. In their minds, they are thinking – at my age, nobody gives me a second look, so why spend hard-earned money on unnecessary grooming.

Or they think they have been married for years, there’s no need to look good for their spouse. Their wardrobe consists mainly of auntie or uncle-type clothes in various funereal shades of black, brown and grey. If comfort is the reason, fine. But if they dress or act to please others, they are allowing others to dictate how they should be living their golden years.

Just going out, mixing with like-minded friends, learning a new skill will lift the spirits as we age. - PHILIPPE LEONE/Unsplash

Be true to yourself. Let others criticise all they want.

The men withdraw from social life, preferring to remain at home watching football on TV or hang out at the kopitiam or club with their buddies, discussing their favourite subject – politics and the state of the economy.

Few would consider taking up a new skill or activity to keep their minds sharp or join an outdoors group for some exercise. For the women, their stock answer to invitations to go out and enjoy themselves at a karaoke lounge, for example, is ‘Aiyah, old already, cannot sing!’

If you really love to sing and it makes you happy, don’t give it up just because you think you can’t sing anymore due to ‘old age’. You are suppressing the inner voice that is yearning to come out.

Many retirees allow themselves to go downhill upon retirement. They put on weight by avoiding all manner of physical activity. Their excuse – oh, at my age, I shouldn’t exert myself too much. Over time, they build up a host of health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease.

They become frail and sickly, and dependent on others. They shun any form of physical exertion for fear of falling or hurting themselves. No one is suggesting they do marathons, climb mountains or shoot rapids.

Regular simple exercise such as daily brisk walking, stretching, and strength training is sufficient to ensure we remain fit in our senior years. Yet they make no effort to do so, and give a dozen reasons or excuses why.

Oftentimes the most painful (and expensive) lesson learned is when we have recovered from a major surgery or a near-death experience. That is the most effective motivator to get us to embark on a healthy lifestyle.

But why wait for that to happen?

Take the initiative to explore new horizons. Be fearless. Never let our age stop us from trying new things that interest us. When we spend our retirement years living a sedentary lifestyle, our muscles will soon atrophy. We will start complaining of aches and pains all over.

Before we even reach our 70s, we become dependent on all kinds of aids, from walking aids to hearing aids and every other aid in between. It’s time to get up from our favourite lazy chair and exercise. Don’t fancy exercising on our own? Round up some friends for a qigong session, or join a group that enjoys going for walks in the park.

The social interaction is a boost to our health. Make sure these friends have a positive influence on us. I can’t think of anything more depressing than spending our precious time hanging out with friends who talk about nothing but their pains and aches, who gripe about everything under the sun and who share only criticisms about others.

Get rid of the doldrums and go out. Feel the sunshine and the breeze on our skin. Take time to smell the roses, play with our grandchildren. Recharge. Be grateful that we can get up in the morning to greet another new day.

As is often repeated, growing old is a privilege denied to many. So true. As we age, we see the number of our former classmates, ex-colleagues slowly dwindling with each passing year. Don’t turn down class reunions. It could be the last time old childhood friends can meet up.

Have fun, travel, explore, discover.

This is the time to spend on yourself. Be selfish. We are never too old to pick up new skills, make new friends, even fall in love again. All it takes is a change of mindset and attitude.

The world is our oyster if we let it be. It’s time to get rid of the ‘I’m too old to...’ mantra and replace it with a new one: I’m still young enough to pursue my interests, to follow my dreams, to enjoy life!

Celebrate our second prime. The best is yet to come.

Constantly remind ourselves to make the most of our golden years, not waste them waiting for Death to knock on our door.

It’s so easy to fall into the ageing trap. Life is a choice. Choose wisely to make the last chapter of our lives truly well-lived. Time to think outside the casket!

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to get connected and enjoy social activities for ageing well.

(The article was first published in the print version of The Star on 13 March. The e-version is accessible at https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/03/13/time-for-seniors-to-039think-outside-the-casket039)

Monday, February 19, 2024

GRANDPARENTING - PLEASURE OF PRESSURE?

The writer with her grandchildren (clockwise from left) Max, Allie, Hana, Reiya and baby Ryder, taken close to a decade ago. - Photos: LILY FU

My youngest grandchild turned 10 last month. Celebrating his birthday made me reflect on how quickly the years have rolled by, and how fast the children have grown. My eldest grandchild will be 24 this August.

Has it been that long ago that I cradled this young man as a newborn in my arms and looked after him full time while his parents were out busy working till late at night on their fledgling company?

With multi-generational families no longer living under one roof, the role of grandparents has taken on renewed significance. What would busy working young parents do without grandmas (and grandpas) stepping in to help with the little ones? Well, there’s always the daycare centres or a nanny/domestic helper to look after them. But nothing compares to having one’s own blood and kin care for the children.

As a hands-on grandmother, delighting in caring for the little ones, I was quite surprised when I discovered not all my senior friends shared the same views on the subject of grandparenting.

They felt they had paid their dues and done their turn as parents. It’s time their adult children did theirs, they said.

“No more changing diapers and dealing with toddler tantrums for me. At my age, it’s too stressful. Sure, if there’s an emergency, I’ll be there. I don’t mind playing with my grandchildren or visiting them, but hands-on babysitting? No, thank you.”

Drawing a line

There are many who share the same sentiments.

“My husband and I have eight grandchildren from our three children. Being on call to babysit for all of them leaves us with little time for our own activities.”

“Our son leaves his two-year-old and four-year-old at our house before he goes to work. By the time he picks up the children after work at 7pm, my husband and I are exhausted. Sometimes when my son has a lot of work at the office, he comes as late as 9pm.”

“My husband is 72, and I’m 68. Physically, we can’t keep up with our hyperactive grandsons. Besides, I have high blood pressure.”

“My daughter-in-law and I don’t see eye-to-eye on how to bring up the children, especially when it comes to discipline, food and education. This has caused some tension in our relationship.”

Yes, looking after boisterous little children can be exhausting for grandparents. I know of grandparents whose daily routine involves preparing the children for school, driving them there and picking them up later for tuition or co-curricular activities. They have to make sure the children do their homework, take their meals and set strict rules on video games. This leaves them unable to enjoy social activities with their friends or go on trips with them.

All this can be very tiring. It can be hard to say no when your daughter calls and asks, “Mum, can you come over and babysit this weekend? I’ll be out of town on a business trip.”

Learn to say “No” if there are other options available. If you keep offering to help out all the time, you may soon feel overwhelmed. That is when babysitting and childcare becomes a pressure, and no longer a pleasure.

As a hands-on grandmother, delighting in caring for the little ones, the writer was quite surprised when she realised not all her senior friends shared the same views on the subject of grandparenting.

Family dynamics

Understanding and managing family dynamics play an important role when it comes to grandparenting. Young married couples have to deal with two sets of grandparents for their children – their own parents and their in-laws. Friction can sometimes arise when grandparents-in-law live in another town and do not get to be with their grandchildren often.

There is this feeling that their grandchildren are not as close to them as they are to the other set of grandparents who get to care for them daily. They try to compensate by over-indulging the children, buying them expensive toys and clothes to win over their affection.

There is also the huge difference in opinion on how the children should be raised. Young mothers feel grandparents are old-fashioned and conservative in their thinking. A case in point: when the grandchild is sick, the grandparents will offer home remedies as being more effective than the doctor’s prescription medicine. They are also aghast at how much freedom and independence young parents give their children.

Baby boomer grandparents learned childcare from their parents and from reading books e.g. Dr Benjamin Spock’s seminal Baby and Child Care. Young parents today prefer to go online to learn from child psychologists the latest and best parenting practices. A tip to grandparents to avoid friction – when offering well-meaning advice, don’t start with ‘In my time...’ or ‘In those days...’

This often gives rise to arguments resulting in young mothers regarding the grandparents as meddlesome and outdated.

The young father finds himself in an awkward caught-in-the-middle situation between the two most important women in his life. When grandparents know when to offer well-meaning advice, and when to “zip it”, there can be a happy compromise in the mother and daughter-in-law relationship. Also, when husband and wife have a disagreement over the children, grandparents should not interfere unless approached.

Stay on the sidelines

When there is harmony at home, this creates the ideal home environment for the little ones to grow up in.

It is interesting to study the implications of the changes in demographics. Longevity means more parents can see themselves becoming great grandparents. Four-generation families are no longer rare today. On the flip side, more young people are delaying marriage, and delaying parenthood. Which means not every parent will get to be a grandparent in his lifetime.

On a related note, have you ever wondered why women live longer than men, and why women go through menopause? Could it be that the extra menopausal years are meant for older women to shift their role from child-bearing to caring for the little ones and for the elderly in the family? Well, that makes sense.

Food for thought

I believe I speak for my friends who are grandmas when I say our grandchildren are a source of joy, fun and pride. They grow up so fast. Before you know it, they are preteens, and then full-fledged teenagers. That’s why the fleeting moments spent with my grandchildren are precious.

When they start having their own friends and activities, they won’t have as much time to spend with us. That’s why I value each moment I have with them now. My grandchildren keep me feeling young with their unconditional love and boundless energy.

I’ll be 76 this year. God willing, I want to be around to see all my grandchildren do well and find their purpose in life. For this to happen, I will have to look after myself and be responsible for my health. With long life and good health, I will still be around, not to look after my great grandchildren in my old age, but to just be there for them and to see them growing up well. That’s the circle of life.

Lily Fu is a gerontologist who advocates for seniors. She is founder of SeniorsAloud, an online platform for seniors to get connected and enjoy social activities for ageing well.

(The above article was first published in The Star under the column 'Grey Matters'. It can be accessed at this link: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/02/16/starsilver-is-grandparenting-an-experience-that-gives-one-pleasure-or-pressure)