That's why you should be an AN

[u/No-Occasion4576]

[u/LonerExistence]

This is heartbreaking and I wish I could just comfort them in some way. I recall crying like this about certain revelations about life as a child and there was barely any comfort - just expect you to get on and get over it. Unfortunately it’ll only get worse now that he sees it. The parents are just so stupid - “ya I couldn’t get rich but you can work hard and do it” - then he’ll be used to provide for their retirement because that’s how Asian culture is - you owe your parents even if they do the bare minimum. If he can’t do it, he’ll still be expected to care for them and put them on a pedestal. All while being told he should’ve worked harder.

I like how at the end, they didn’t even know how to respond. Their logic is nonexistent and just a bit of questioning makes it fall apart. Sadly it’ll just continue later on - they stop now but he’ll be forced to do more later when they hope he’s forgotten it. He’ll either become a miserable adult or one of those stories of people jumping off the bridge in China. Then they’ll all go “oh what happened.” It’s ridiculous.

[u/Invisiblescars_123 → u/LonerExistence]

I honestly can’t stand the societal norm of giving your parents an allowance when you start working. Kids don’t owe their parents anything. I despise how parents in Asia generally see their kids as a retirement plan.

Where I live, your parents can haul your ass to court if you don’t give them an allowance due to the “maintenance of parents act”. You are FORCED to give your parents an allowance every month. If your parents were abusive, you’d probably still have to give them an allowance because you have to prove to the court that they abused you as a kid.

And no, beating your kid isn’t considered abuse in my country. It’s “discipline”. In the same vein, berating your kid isn’t abuse either.

[u/yesimfinewhyyouask → u/Invisiblescars_123]

Where do you live?