Twitter Thread On 'If Children Owe Their Parents Anything' Has People Questioning Their Ideals

A Twitter thread by user Valia is taking the Internet by storm. People online are flocking to the thread to discuss and criticise Valia¡¯s take on whether "children owe their parents anything." The nature of the topic has triggered many to take a reactive stance against the user, while some seem to partially agree with them.

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Twitter User Discusses If Children Should 'Owe' Their Parents Anything

Valia starts by declaring that according to her children, they owe nothing to their parents, as she acknowledges her own loving relationship with her own. According to Valia, simply having a child does not qualify a parent to be expectant and demanding.She writes, "They chose to have you - for whatever reason. No child asked to be born. There is nothing to reciprocate here and therefore, you do not owe them."

She goes on to say that one does not owe their parents anything simply because they spent a lot of money on your education when they decided to have you. She added, "It is their duty to fund your basic needs because they had you." She states that the simple reason that they are "your parents" is also not enough to justify the cause.

Do children owe their parents?

This is something I have given deep thought to, and as someone who has a fairly healthy relationship with my incredibly loving and understanding parents, the answer is no.

Here's a thread why.

¡ª Valia (@Vaishnavioffl) December 27, 2022

She points out, "Parents don't really know what they're doing most of the time, and very few make the effort to actually learn and be healthy with their kids." Valia references an article by E. B. Johnson on a similar topic. She explains that the author talks about toxic parents who see their children as possessions.

Valia further adds that in these toxic relationships, setting up boundaries without guilt according to your needs takes centre stage. In the context of Indian parents, she goes on to write that parents rarely know how to deal with their adult children. She adds, "Somehow they believe that purely by having existed on this planet longer, they know better."

People Online Are Divided On The Topic

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The Twitter user explains that their increased age does not equate to the respect they deserve, especially since most of these parents have been a toxic presence in their child's life."Becoming parents does not automatically absolve them of their misdeeds, nor does it make them a better person," Valia writes.

She further references the words of philosopher Bertrand Russell, who believes that some parents cling to youth "in the hope of sucking vigour from its vitality." He talks about the space given to an adult child and how extreme interference can lead to friction in the relationship. She adds on to his words, "They believe them doing the basic is a sacrifice."

She addresses the concept of gratitude in such a relationship and agrees that if the parents and children are "good people," where parents can give without expecting anything, mostly children turn out to be respectful enough to give back. She pens, "But that is a best case scenario. As long as parents keep thinking their children owe them and raise them with that conditioning, toxic relationships are bound to exist."

Find out how the people online reacted to Valia¡¯s thread:

For Quadrupeds offsprings are the priority then in some like Elephants and lions clan than family is priority..
But Bipeds the scale of nurturing so advanced that those which would have been discarded were accorded care well into their ripe years and now say "do we owe parents"?

¡ª selvakumar (@mindspeak01) December 28, 2022

Yes they do big time if they have loving and supportive parents, i won't read shit u may have written on this thread

¡ª KEN (@shankytwt) December 27, 2022

You will understand when your kids say the same thing to you.

¡ª Thamba (@Thambaaaa) December 28, 2022

All true. But just one counter point. If you're past 21 and you want your parents to finance expensive education abroad, you're a burden on them in their retired life. Children never think their parents need a life beyond caring about their kids' needs. Pay your own way, adults!

¡ª Annie | @blackcoffee@mstdn.social (@AnnieThomaz) December 27, 2022

Its a difference betn gratitude and entitlement both ways ! As long as parents and kids think it¡¯s gratitude, relationship is beautiful. When everyone thinks they are entitled, trouble starts.

¡ª rameshrunsmarathons???? (@ramesh373) December 27, 2022

Excellent thread, very well written ?

¡ª Sw@ti (@tweetwalibai) December 27, 2022

Why don't people get this!

¡ª Valia (@Vaishnavioffl) December 28, 2022