What do YOU OWE to your parents?
by Beyond Reason
(Tulsa, OK)
Dear Caregiver Group: I've sat on the sidelines for too long and simply just read others stories and comments from others but today I'm going to put it to you straight.
If your Mother and Father raised you, put a roof over your head, food in your mouth, clothes on your back and gave you care when you were sick/ill then YOU OWE THEM SOMETHING!!!
I read the long string of barbed comments flying back and forth about the name calling and mudslinging relating to what income bracket you happen to be in and how you think your Mother or Father should be treated when they are old and gray and too frail to take care of themselves any longer.
Shame on people for making this about some sort of CLASS WAR! It is about HUMAN BEINGS AND COMPASSION PEOPLE!!! COMPASSION FOR YOUR MOM OR DAD WHO BROUGHT YOU INTO THIS WORLD!!!!
I'm so saddened by the lack of humanity displayed by some of these folks who call themselves a daughter/son.
A society is judged on how they treat the very poor and their elderly. Lets not lost sight of that simple fact folks.
If your Mom or Dad was unkind and abusive to you then I can fully appreciate your lack of involvement with their care when they get old.
But, if they were a decent provider and showed you kindness, understanding, love, compassion, unconditional love, then you need to be INVOLVED! Did you ever stop once and think what will happen to
you when you get old and gray someday? Are your children going to take care of you? What kind of a parent have you been? Do you show your own children love and affection and the same kind of unconditional love your parents showed you growing up?
Today, men and women or so all consumed with work and earning that living so they can live in the nice, big house, drive the latest model SUV, and be donned in the latest fashion that they lose sight of the most important reason for their existence!
Being a good role model for your children and showing them to respect their elders is very important but sadly forgotten these days! Being the Chosen One is not always a picnic but someone needs to step up to the plate and be your parents advocate and voice when they can no longer be heard.
Lets be there for one another on this forum and lets give positive feedback and not attack one another for our obvious differences of opinions.
And remember that someday your Mom or Dad will not be there to take care of or go visit at the "home" and then you will be forced to deal with your demons if you chose to neglect your duties as a loving daughter or son. Talking to a headstone in a cemetery is an empty, hollow feeling and I know because I've been there.
Love your parents and show them the respect and dignity that they deserve. They need you.