Curse the wicked children
Sunday August 17, 2008
By Nazreen
I WAS aghast and upset by Throw momma from the train (Fit4Life, Aug 10) about the recent “trends” of children abusing their (elderly) parents.
It seems more often than not, the abuse is carried out by (adult) children or caregivers who demand power over their ailing and elderly parents. In fact, as reported, those who “depend on the elder for financial assistance” are at higher risk of being the abusers.
Clashes and disputes over wealth and money are just one of the trigger factors for the abusers.
However, some of the cases are swept under the rug, partly due to the parents’ unconditional love for their children. And indeed, just like other abuse cases, the parents are often “hesitant and feel shameful” to report these “mistreatments”.
It just saddens me as I know that most parents would go the extra distance to defend and care for their children; there’s no doubt in my mind that my parents would make the journey to hell and back to ensure my safety and wellbeing.
My father, who is a senior police officer, once told me about a mother who begged and even bowed at his feet, wailing and pleading for the release of her son who was detained for illegal racing. His father had to sell his car and his wife’s jewellery to make bail for their son.
And what did the son do to pay back for his parents’ sacrifices? He broke into people’s houses, stole money from his siblings and slapped and kicked his mother and sisters when they couldn’t provide food for him to eat.
I shudder at the loss of family values; even the local dramas are showing scenes of parents being abused by their children, and there seems to be more of “Si Tenggangs” now, than ever before. Unfortunately, unlike the Tenggang legend, none of these parents’ abusers are turned into stones, although they deserve it.
Nazreen, Mersing
SOURCE: Malaysia Star
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