[Sportschosun Jeong An-ji] Jung Juri shed tears as she opened up about the guilt and worries she has felt while raising her five sons.
On the MBN program 'Dongchimi' aired on the 27th, Jung Juri, known as the mother of five boys, appeared and shared the realities of parenting as well as her deep affection for her children.
In the video, Jung Juri recalled those days when she gave her whole body to her children and slept hunched over. "When I was putting the youngest to sleep while nursing him, the fourth would ask me to let him use my arm as a pillow, and the third would say he wanted to sleep holding my leg," she said. She added with a smile, "I’m so exhausted from not getting enough sleep, but I’m happy because I feel like the children rely on me so much and love me so much."
But daily life with five sons was always unpredictable. Breaking cosmetics was just the beginning. They would also spill juice on their faces while drinking it or pull out printer ink and press handprints onto the bed mattress.
Jung Juri said that even the injuries were unusual, and she recalled several frightening moments. "All of the children have been to the emergency room at least once," she said. "The fourth fell from a bunk bed and needed staples in the emergency room, and the second put his hand into coffee while learning to walk, suffered burns, and was even hospitalized."
She also revealed, "The third got a corneal burn when hand sanitizer got into his eye during the COVID-19 period." She added, "His pupil turned white, almost like a scab had formed. He still goes in for checkups every six months, and he has to keep getting examined until he becomes an adult," drawing sympathy.
Jung Juri said, "People around me say, 'You gave birth to healthy children, so why do they keep getting hurt?' But these things happen in the blink of an eye." She then blamed herself, saying, "I feel so sorry because I think I may not have paid enough attention to the details."
She went on to say, "As the children grow older, I think I’m failing to take care of their emotional needs, not just their physical ones." She added, "I have to look after the younger children, so I feel sorry that I can’t listen to the stories of my first, second, and third sons all the way through."
In particular, Jung Juri said, "The children told me, 'I wish I had five moms,'" expressing her regret at hearing those words from children who need their mother’s attention so much.
She said, "I thought I was struggling alone, but the children were having a hard time too." She added, "I kept wondering if I had only given birth to them," deepening the sense of sadness.
As Jung Juri talked about her eldest son, she eventually burst into tears. "My eldest son’s dream is to go on a date with his mom," she said. "He likes the days when we go to the hospital. Afterward, we eat together and go to a cafe, so he looks forward to those days." She continued, "I will do my best to make sure you and I can create happy moments and happy memories. I’ll keep telling you how I feel. I love you so much," she said through tears, sharing her heartfelt love for her son.
anjee85@sportschosun.com
