Indian Version of Social Security - Kids
Its that time of your life when your mom starts talking about the "M"-word - marriage. No, this aint about weddings, dreams and happy life ever after, but about the change in dynamic between parents and kids after marriage.
Indian middle class is moving towards nuclear families. In India, parents in their old-age are to be taken care of by their children. This is the unwritten law and kids are the social security that parents invest in. But, with more urban, hip, and globe-trotting children (thanks to the economic boom), many parents are literally stranded in the highway of life. They have become excess luggage. And this is a bad thing.
For many from my parents generation, karma meant something. They believed that if they took care of their parents, they would, in turn, be comforted in old age. Old age, is a pretty tricky time. Retirement for most people is a loss of identity. And old age takes a toll physically too. A loss of identity and failing health creates mental insecurity and instability. At such a vulnerable time, if they are abandoned by dollar earning children(who of course send in money), they are not in a position to cope.
Old people, like children, need attention. Insecurity can only be cured by hand-holding. When we plan for green-cards, better careers, earning spouses, wonderful kids, 401Ks and Beemers, we also need to add parents to our list. We as a generation, owe it to them and there isnt a better way to repay them.
Indian middle class is moving towards nuclear families. In India, parents in their old-age are to be taken care of by their children. This is the unwritten law and kids are the social security that parents invest in. But, with more urban, hip, and globe-trotting children (thanks to the economic boom), many parents are literally stranded in the highway of life. They have become excess luggage. And this is a bad thing.
For many from my parents generation, karma meant something. They believed that if they took care of their parents, they would, in turn, be comforted in old age. Old age, is a pretty tricky time. Retirement for most people is a loss of identity. And old age takes a toll physically too. A loss of identity and failing health creates mental insecurity and instability. At such a vulnerable time, if they are abandoned by dollar earning children(who of course send in money), they are not in a position to cope.
Old people, like children, need attention. Insecurity can only be cured by hand-holding. When we plan for green-cards, better careers, earning spouses, wonderful kids, 401Ks and Beemers, we also need to add parents to our list. We as a generation, owe it to them and there isnt a better way to repay them.
posted by Unknown at 10:50 PM
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