Like our parents

Noticed his wife was livelier, more enthusiastic, more “tuned in,” happier; he even became a little worried — could there be someone else? Amid the doubts, he put his antennae up!

But, since he noticed no abnormal sign of vanity, or suspicious attitudes — on the contrary, she was more homebound and even less “coquettish” — he became concerned. What could be happening?

Outside the routine, there was only his stepdaughter, who lives and works abroad and had come to spend her vacation with her mother. In truth, with her friends, she hardly stayed at home.

Of course! Why had he not noticed it right away?

For two days now, the stepdaughter had been down with a viral infection, and the mother, finally, was able to exercise her “matrial power”: to show herself as a mother in all her fullness, so that everyone could see what a devoted mother she was.

If something did not go right, it was not for lack of sacrifices and care on her part. And, "ça va sans dire", to blackmail a little reciprocity, for when old age arrives, from the object of her protection.

Of course, these are malicious remarks; instincts speak louder and explain the overprotection.

Well, they explain it up to a certain age of the offspring.

The stepdaughter is already 30 little years old… Perhaps the malicious remarks apply. Or not.

He remembered that, when he too was about 30 years old — some 40 years ago now; time flies — and worked in the city of São Paulo, from time to time he would go spend the weekends in his hometown. One Friday, upon arriving at his parents’ house, he immediately warned them:

— Don’t come too close to me, because I’m feverish and have a sore throat; I may infect you!

And his mother, running toward him:

— How wonderful! I have an excellent medicine for that…

The “how wonderful” had slipped out, and remained hanging in the air…

They looked at each other, began to laugh, and then to cry. They hugged.

To this day, he cries when he remembers his mother, his father, those episodes and others.

Or when he goes through similar situations with his own children.

Miguel Fernández y Fernández, engineer, chronicler and columnist, member of the National Academy of Engineering and of the Institute of Engineering. Written on Aug. 25, 2024, revised Jan. 2026, 1,852 characters.