Managing a happy family with love
“Since getting married, we have always lived with my mother-in-law.” After coming to Taiwan, Tang has had to bear the responsibilities of a daughter-in-law and show filial respect to her mother-in-law. “A heart for a heart—my mother-in-law has also loved me like a daughter!” As Tang talks about her family life, her face is filled with happiness.
Tang was determined to bear a child for her in-laws, and to this end she really went through a lot. “The doctor said I was ‘super, super, super old’ to have a child.” Although they tried all kinds of methods and failed repeatedly, she always held onto a thread of hope, and was unwilling to give up. Five years after her marriage, at age 44, Tang finally had her wish fulfilled, giving birth to an adorable daughter.
“My mother-in-law really helped during my lying-in month, so now my health is even better than when I was young.” As she talks about her mother-in-law, Tang’s heart is filled with gratitude.
“For two whole months, my mother-in-law forbade me to touch water. She washed the baby every day, and did all the housework single-handedly.” The relationship between Tang and her mother-in-law was closer than between a mother and her own daughter.
“Life is what you make it. If you really want something, you’ll find a way, and if you don’t, you’ll find a way out.” Although Tang is busy with multiple jobs, she has always put the family first. This has been especially the case since 2012, when her mother-in-law suffered a stroke, and Tang cut down on her outside work. Every day there is feeding, washing, physical rehabilitation… she makes taking care of the elderly woman her most important task. Tang explains, “She’s 90 years old, and doesn’t have a lot of time left, so why not grasp the opportunity to do things right?” Tang, a firm believer in Buddhism, has always kept in mind her mother-in-law’s kindness to her, and she feels that having the opportunity to repay that is a karmic reward given to her by Heaven.
Tang has long served as a hospital volunteer, assisting patients and their families.