When parents behave like reckless teenagers!

Our society respects parents. We were told while growing up that parents are like our second God; hence, deserve the respect. In fact, we have internalised respecting parents so much so that talking ill of them even when they are wrong is taken as a taboo.

I bet someone is already reading this column while condemning me as someone who ‘does not respect parents’. Well, this column is actually here to call out anything that is unfair in society. And one of the unfair things in our society is when parents, expect their older children to parent other children they sire late in life when they do not even have the means to take care of the little ones.

Society has normalised this unfair set up where parents will burden their first, second or third born children with such a responsibility on the basis of ‘reaping on children’s benefits’. Now, while I do not have a problem with siblings looking out for each other, it is absurd and reckless for parents to sire more children late in life. There has to be a cut-off point.

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This business of looking at an older child as the answer to all our challenges should stop. There is such a thing as a parent abusing their own child economically. And expecting an older child, who has just started working, to take over all the responsibility of paying school fees and other costs of their siblings is not right.

And then we have parents who will ask for financial assistance and when they get it, they misuse the money or live as if they are millionaires believing there is more where that came from. While the previous generation did not know better, the modern one should do better and be mindful that when our children grow and start working, they do not owe us their siblings’ fees or money to fund our lifestyles. They deserve a break to create their own families.

That way, we can create a healthier society. Let’s break this cycle of perpetual poverty. If children decide to help us in our old age, let it be from their good heart.

It should not be an obligation or an expectation. Parents should choose to have children they we can take care of and live within their means. A child should not guide a fellow child.

Everyone should get the guidance of their parents unless in cases of death. If you sire a child, be ready to take care for it until the child becomes of age and is economically independent. Children should not be raising each other while their parents are still around making more children.

It is not right on so many levels. Let us do better. If we cannot afford too many children then having one or two makes sense.

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