This concept has bothered me for some time now: that kids should support their parents, whether during their childhood or after they move out, as if they "owe" the parents some indeterminable fee for raising them.
I only realized how much this bothered me when my friend casually mentioned that he sends half (HALF) of his not-at-all-large paycheck to his parents to support them. I never pressed the issue too much as I didn't want to offend him or anything, but as far as I know his parents don't explicitly need him to do that, and he's been doing it for YEARS. He's never given any justification for it beyond "they're my parents." I admit there could be a very good reason for it that he just chose not to mention, but from where I stand that's just completely fucked up.
Who put this idea in people's heads? Not everyone believes it, especially if their parents were not exactly the best, but it's clear to me that many do, and it ESPECIALLY pisses me off when the parents themselves think it.
I love my parents, and I understand helping them as an act of love. I DON'T understand some sort of obligation to parents for pooping us out and providing for us as is mandated by the law. My parents are well-off, all things considered, but if they weren't, and they came to me with the EXPECTATION that I'd help them, I'd say no. That's not my job. I'm owe them nothing.
I know I probably am coming off as cold here, but I can't be the only guy who thinks children incur some kind of "debt" for the simple act of being born and cared while unable to provide for themselves in the first place. I don't care if you were an accident on Prom night, an unexpected twin, or an adoption; there is no debt, no agreement, no obligation.
I know it's not that easy for some, and I can't do much about it. I just hate obligations in general, and this one in particular. If I choose to help someone, it should be because I want to, not because I'm "supposed" to.
I only realized how much this bothered me when my friend casually mentioned that he sends half (HALF) of his not-at-all-large paycheck to his parents to support them. I never pressed the issue too much as I didn't want to offend him or anything, but as far as I know his parents don't explicitly need him to do that, and he's been doing it for YEARS. He's never given any justification for it beyond "they're my parents." I admit there could be a very good reason for it that he just chose not to mention, but from where I stand that's just completely fucked up.
Who put this idea in people's heads? Not everyone believes it, especially if their parents were not exactly the best, but it's clear to me that many do, and it ESPECIALLY pisses me off when the parents themselves think it.
I love my parents, and I understand helping them as an act of love. I DON'T understand some sort of obligation to parents for pooping us out and providing for us as is mandated by the law. My parents are well-off, all things considered, but if they weren't, and they came to me with the EXPECTATION that I'd help them, I'd say no. That's not my job. I'm owe them nothing.
I know I probably am coming off as cold here, but I can't be the only guy who thinks children incur some kind of "debt" for the simple act of being born and cared while unable to provide for themselves in the first place. I don't care if you were an accident on Prom night, an unexpected twin, or an adoption; there is no debt, no agreement, no obligation.
I know it's not that easy for some, and I can't do much about it. I just hate obligations in general, and this one in particular. If I choose to help someone, it should be because I want to, not because I'm "supposed" to.