7.270
1 (Sat) October 2016
Sinigang na Corned Beef
2.5
at Sentro 1771
(see most recently 7.004 Tortang Talong)
-Serendra Piazza, Taguig-
with the boys and the In-Laws
When I got home this morning after a long week in Japan (see most recently 7.269 Grilled Shiitake), the MIL (Mother-in-Law) opened the door. The FIL (Father-in-Law) was standing behind her to welcome me in.
They’ve been in town for the past week, looking after the boys.
While I was away for work, the W (Wife) has been on vacation with her friends in Greece. Nice life.
Can’t imagine what my parents would say if I were to ask them to fly into Manila and babysit so that I could hang out in Europe, but I know that it would never happen.
Tha’ts a difference between parents of moms and parents of dads. My mom would come babysit my kids if i asked her anytime because she would want me to go on a business trip or a vacation away from work. She would do it for me (and partly to hang with the girls, but mostly for me).
someone told me a theory that a maternal grandmother feels that connection because she actually carried her maternal grandchildren in her own wombs — that is, she carried her daughter, who is born with all eggs.
when it comes to korean grandparents, i also partly blame societal conditioning re gender roles. i don’t think paternal grandparents think they’re helping their son when they provide childcare for their grandchildren – rather, it’s a favor to their daughter-in-law because the mom is supposed to be the caregiver anyway, and for many, they’re not willing to sacrifice their time and energy for the daughter-in-law. just my observations based on a pool of koreans and korean americans around me.
that’s totally true in our situation. my mother’s never said as much, but i can totally see her saying, “your wife’s life is easy as it is, don’t see why i should go out of my to make it easier.” —- so, thanks to your theory, i guess i CAN imagine what my parents would say.