Who's going to take care of who?

Last week when my parents, our helper and I were watching a segment on a noon time show, there was one question that had stuck on my mind. The question was something about children taking care of their parents when they are already old. Is it really the responsibility of the children to take care of them? What is your opinion on this?

For me, I really do believe that it is the responsibility of the children to take care of their parents when they are old and weak. Just like how the parents are responsible for their children when they were still a baby until they hit adulthood. There was a moment of silence after the question has been asked and to break that, our helper shouted, "Si Jonna (It's Jonna)". Even if I know what she wanted to imply I just said, "HUH?!". Then she replied with, "Si Jonna ang mag-aalaga kasi si Jonna ang babae (It's Jonna who is going to take care because it is Jonna who is a girl)". Then she kept on blabbering that it is a girl's/woman's responsibility to take care of everything. I jokingly passed on the responsibility to her and I said that she would be the one to take care of my parents. We both laughed but honestly even before she shouted my name, I was already thinking about that. Do you agree with our helper that it is a woman's responsibility to take care of everything?We are now at the age where girls can do what the guys can do and vice versa. Why is it that I should only be the one responsible for my parents? Is being married excludes my brother from that responsibility? There are times that my brother would joke that we should sell our house and buy a property that is still in Quezon City but a little nearer to other cities in Metro Manila and we will all live there. My dad was mummed yet my mom agreed to the idea. I had a lot of things on my mind when he joked about that but deep inside I know that my brother just wants to us to be living under the same roof again. It maybe a joke but we all know that jokes are half meant. I do not know what my sister-in-law was thinking that time when my brother said that nor do I know if she was ok with the thought of all of us living under 1 roof.

Have I mentioned before that I have aunts and uncles from both sides that are still single? One of my aunt who was single had lived with her sister who was divorced with no child for a long time. Sadly, my aunt who was single died a few years ago and my aunt is now living alone abroad. She does not have any cellphone nor does she knows what social media is. We do not even know if she knows how to use a computer since it was her sister who was always emailing us before. When her sister died, she had the internet disconnected. We would call her through long distance every now and then in her home phone number just to check on her. She is old and alone. She does not want to go back here in the Philippines since she said that the last time that they did, it was very hot here. Well that was more than a decade so it is even more hotter now. Additionally, she said that she is insured there so if she would be living here, she has to think of her medical expenses if she needed to go to the hospital.

My mom's sister who was single all her life has been living with his brother. When my grandmother was still alive, she was also living there. I know that it was also my grandmother's last wish to my uncle that he should look after her sister when she's gone.

I am not that bothered on who is going to take care of my parents because I am already taking care of them and I have been taking care of them even before. Maybe not in the financial aspect but in other things like when they were sick. What I am worrying about is if there would be someone who would take care of me when I am already old or who is going to take care of me? Will it be ok for my sister-in-law if I will live with them if I will not meet the person whom I am going to spend my life with just like with my mom's sister? Or will I be like my dad's sister who will be living alone? I know that I should not yet be thinking about these stuffs because I am still young and there are still a lot to happen. But should I really not think about it? Or do I have to prepare for it as early as now?

There were instances where I think that I'd rather want a baby or a child than to get married. Some adults also adviced me on that but of course I still want my child to have a father and a complete family when he/she grows up. Not only do I want to know how it feels like to be a mother but I also want someone to take care of me when I am old. I even joked before that I wanted 4 kids so there would be 4 people who will look after me. Although we know that there's no assurance if my future kids will take care of me or not. Whatever my future would be, I just hope that I would not be alone and that I would also be loved and well taken cared of like how I am to my parents. Have you also thought of these things or you are confident that you will have someone with you when you are old?

P.S. lead image is a photo of me and my parents