Before You Bring Parents to Canada

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Immigrants want to leave their countries for new lands like Canada and U.S. but do not want to abandon the culture of the old country. What do they do? They fly parents to the new country to preserve religious and cultural norms that do not conform with norms of the adopted country.

That is why there are certain factors you must consider before flying your parents over to live permanently with you in Canada and U.S.  In most cases parents insist they want to visit, not because they miss sons. It’s because they come as inspectors to see if the old country is maintained in how sons live. The daughter-in-law is an after thought. Whether your parents are coming for a brief or permanent visit this is what they are going to find.

Grandchildren

They are not docile like grand kids in the old country, that run errands for parents and grandparents. They are also not forced to attend prayers at a certain time. It’s child abuse to make them switch off their phones, wear special clothes and do cultural things.

Daughters-in-law

They were subservient to in-laws in the old country. They hold the power in Canada and U.S. It’s not unusual to see grandparents mutely following daughters-in-law at the mall. In one instance, they woodenly stared at the daughter-in-law helping her kids sit on Santa’s lap. That was before the COVID-19.

Small spaces

Most immigrants start in apartment buildings because you must be a millionaire to rent or buy a house in the new country. Therefore, immigrants struggle to live on top of each other, with no open spaces where adults can say: Kids, go outside and play.

Conclusion: Parents who live with married kids in the new country will have a great time if they are willing to accept that they will not have the power they had in the old country and that grandchildren might not be interested in old languages, because they have news ones: internet languages.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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