Summer, for students, is the most anticipated time of the year - resting, playing recreation, " relaxing" after stressful school months. But for many grandparents and elderly people who are "retiring peacefully", this is the time when their lives are... strongly disrupted. A "soft cheating" that people still humorously call: " summer vacation" is "attacking" the "retirement" block.
If during the year, they can leisurely go for exercise in the morning, sleep at noon, go to the pagoda in the afternoon, watch news at night... then in the summer, that school year will be "erased" due to the appearance of the children. Many families in the city choose to send their children back to their hometowns, so that they can have a summer vacation to avoid the heat, while parents can work with peace of mind. But that means, the couple has moved from retirement to a full-time nanny role.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thuc (66 years old, Gia Loc district, Hai Duong province) jokingly said: "I have a very good lunch all year round. Since he returned, it was noon when he played superman, running around and fighting. Last night, I listened to news, now I have to listen to cartoon music, but I am very happy!
Ms. Trinh Thi Van (Nam Sach district) shared: "Many times I am very tired, but seeing my child return to the countryside, healthy, eating well and sleeping well makes me happy. Let's say that retirement has an "expiry date".
In rural areas, summer is also the time when the village is bustling, and the laughter of children echoes throughout the alley. Playgrounds such as communal houses, ponds, and fields have become a "stage" for creative games. However, the pressure on the elderly is also present: to be vigilant, take care of every meal, sleep, and learn about small floods without parents.
In the summer, parents' worries about food and clothing are partly shared by their grandparents, but behind that is the enduring love, which is the days of "retiring but not being able to retire". And in that bustling children's smile, there was also a sighing sound... a little love mixed with the "retired warriors" roaming in the summer.
