It is not a must you take care of your parents as they did for you growing up!
After all, they didn't ask for your permission before giving birth to you.
They shouldn't expect you to give back what they did for you as if you owe them.
However, it is only right that you don't look away because of that... They are your parents and they didn't ask for you in particular but they loved you as much as they can and took care of you. Making sure they don't struggle at old age is necessary if it is in your capacity to do so.
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I think I've said my mind already but to an extent, mind you, I'm for the children making sure they take care of their parents but only if it is in their capacity and if the parents aren't so about "I took care of you, you must take care of me". I mean, I've seen old parents well taken care of by people who are not related to them in anyways, what do you say about that?
Someone once told me that he is only taking care of his parents because he is able to, he has the money and can't bear to see anyone suffering when he can help them out but to be honest, he wished they did better for themselves. In his words, "If they had done well for themselves, they won't be needing their child who's out for his own search to come take care of them".
Not trying to say the rich has it better for them but to an extent, if the parents are wealthy, the children won't have to struggle to take care of them in their old age. But then, taking care of our old parents if all is well shouldn't mean you have so much wealth first. A little help here and there, a word of support and spending quality time could go a long way in taking care of our old parents.
It's not that I'm trying to say it's better when our old parents can take care of themselves without the help of their kids but I feel it would make the work easier for the children who decide to take care of them in other ways. I'll still say it is not a must that a child must care for his or her old parents but it is a necessary responsibility that every child is born with.
And an old adage goes like... "What you do to your parents is what your children will do to you". This kinda helps keep some children in check in hopes that they will have it easy in their own time. As for me, the plan is to not rely on the fact that my children must take care of me in my old age.
There are a lot of ways I could start working towards that, we only pray for wisdom to accomplish such a old age where you'd be taken care but not at the expense of a child complaining about the responsibility being too much for him or her.
Preparing a path that my children will follow, building a strong mind in them for any incoming difficulties and getting them ready for whatever their old parents will bring for them... They are all things one could put in plan even from the little things I eat now and how well I take care of my health now.
In my view, my children are not to be forced to take care of me but I believe I'll have children who won't be burdened to take care of their sweet old mother and father, because they parents who are also prepared for their old age 😌
In conclusion, taking care of our old parents is not a must but a necessity.
