‘I always made sure I was there to help’

63, retired entrepreneur from Changchun, Jilin province

I amvery lucky to have two children. My son and daughter were both born before the family planning policy was adopted.

Nowthey are each other’s companions, which is the reason I encouraged them to have two children of their own. They listened to me and now they both have two kids.

I can say I amvery experienced in taking care of children, because I started doing it when I was only 6 years old. In 1959, I moved tomy elder sister’s home in Changchun from Shandong province to escape a famine. My sister had five children, and I took care of them. Later, I raisedmy own children.

So, whenmy grandchildren came one after the other during the past 15 years, I didmy best to help.

My first grandchild was born in 2002. When he was 1 year old, I went tomy son’s home in Changchun to take care of the baby. Every day was busy, but watching him grow up made everything worthwhile.

Whenmy grandson was 8 years old, my daughter gave birth to a girl in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in South China. The distance didn’t stop me from going to her side. Later, both ofmy children had second children, and I always made sure I was there to help.

Looking back, I have been busy dealing with crying babies, feeding bottles and diapers since I was 49. NowI feel a little tired, but I have to carry on becausemy children are busy working every day and they need me. If I don’t help them, they won’t be able to survive.

Although days are not easy when children are small, the effort will pay off eventually— at least, I always believe so. Parents will die one day, and when that day comes the children will have each other to lean on. Guo Shouqin spoke with Liu Kun.

Guo Shouqin with her granddaughter