Violence to Parents?

So much have been written about domestic abuses or violence between children and parents.  Most of these cover parents’ abuses to children and how these had affected the children physically, emotionally and psychologically.  It is seldom that  abuse of elders, i.e. children’s mistreatment of parents which are also widespread are taken into consideration.  These are common particularly for parents who at their advance years are no longer match to their adult children physically.

There had been news and documented stories of parents who had been left to roam and live in the streets, locked up, denied proper feeding and living conditions and, worst are killed by their children.  Foremost however are verbal abuses that may not harm physically but may leave a deep emotional and psychological scar to a parent.  Usual victims are mothers who in most cases prefer to keep it to themselves to protect their children.  At times they even felt guilty thinking that they may not have brought up their children properly to behave that way.

Yes! Children have the right to be listened to and have their opinions heard just like everyone else.  However, no matter how right the child is, due respect demands that when the parent speaks, right or wrong let the parent speak first and listen to his arguments to understand better where or from what side is he coming from.  Whether how right or wrong a parent is, the child should refrain from answering back offensively.  Yes! Parents are not always right and in some instance would not accept that they are at fault but, this does not give the child the right to lambast, degrade, or abuse their parents in whatever manner.  If a parent is too unreasonable, seeking the help of a third party who has great influence over the parent will be a great help.  Children ought to give importance to their parent’s feelings that tend to be more sensitive as they grow older particularly at the point or circumstance where they are forced to be totally dependent on their children either physically, emotionally, and financially for support.  Useless as they may seem but they still possess the typical ego that is most perceptive when at its lowest.

For a parent, no matter how wrong his child is, there is always room in his heart to understand and forgive.  Parents have been there to welcome their children to this world, stayed beside them in their toddling years, shared their joys and triumphs, supplied strength and hope in their pains, fears and disappointments and, supported and shielded them in their struggles to help them become the persons they aspired to be.  From the time of his conception a child had been a part of a parent’s prayers and will always be until the parent’s last day on earth. In times where a parent has unintentionally hurt his child, he too suffers and felt remorseful of the pain he caused though it may not seem too obvious.  No amount in whatever structure could compensate the physical, emotional, psychological and financial struggles the parent have to surmount through the years to ensure a fine foundation for  his child future.  Real parents should never stop caring and loving their children not only in this world but also through the world beyond. 

Maybe then it won’t make an adult child a lesser person if he will at least afford a little respect or ponder a bit if what he is doing or has done to his parent is a justifiable way to get back.   And, had his actions made him a happier and a fulfilled individual?