BY ZAMAN NOOR
In recent times, we’ve heard some very sad news. Some children have been treating their old parents badly. This is not how things should be. Let’s talk about why this is happening and what we can do to make things better.
Unfortunately there have been stories in the news or in socialmedia that make us feel upset and ashamed as society.
These stories are hard to hear and more hard to comment on, They make us wonder what’s happening to our society. This kind of behavior wasn’t common before. It goes against everything we believe in.
Our land is known as (Peer Veer) (Reshi Veer) the Garden of Saints. It’s a place where people respect each other and care for one another. We have a long history of being kind and looking after those who need help.
This new trend of hurting old parents doesn’t fit with our culture. It’s not part of our civilization. We’ve always believed in taking care of our elders. They are the ones who taught us everything we know. They made us who we are today.
They took care of us, When we were little, our parents did everything good for us. They fed us, clothed us and kept us safe. Now it’s our turn to do the same for them.
They sacrificed for us, Many parents give up their own dreams to make sure their children have a good life. They work hard so we can have nice things and go to good schools.
They love us, Parents love their children no matter what. Even when we make mistakes, they still care for us. We should show them the same love when they’re old.
It’s the right thing to do, Taking care of those who can’t take care of themselves is a good thing. It shows we are kind and caring people.
We learn from them, Old people have lived long lives. They have lots of stories and wisdom to share. By spending time with them, we can learn many valuable things.
It makes us better people, When we care for others, it helps us grow as individuals. We become more patient, understanding and compassionate.
As children, we have certain duties towards our parents, especially when they get old:
Provide basic needs, We should make sure our parents have food, clothing and a place to live. They shouldn’t have to worry about these things in their old age.
Give them medical care, Old people often need more medical attention. It’s our job to take them to doctors and make sure they get the right treatment.
Spend time with them, Many old people feel lonely. We should visit them often and include them in family activities.
Show respect, We should always speak to our parents with respect. Even if we disagree with them, we shouldn’t be rude or shout at them.
Help with daily tasks, As people get older, simple tasks can become difficult. We should help our parents with things like shopping, cleaning, or using new technology.
Keep them safe, We need to make sure our parents are safe from harm. This includes protecting them from accidents at home and from people who might try to cheat them.
Listen to them, Our parents have feelings and opinions too. We should listen to what they have to say and consider their advice.
Include them in decisions, When making big family decisions, we should ask our parents what they think. Their experience can be very helpful.
Besides duties, we also have responsibilities towards our parents
Financial support, If our parents don’t have enough money, we should help them. This could mean giving them money regularly or paying for big expenses.
Emotional support, Old age can be a tough time. We should be there for our parents when they feel sad or worried.
Be patient, Sometimes old people can be slow or forgetful. We need to be patient and kind, even when it’s frustrating.
Keep them active, We should encourage our parents to stay active and involved in life. This could mean helping them find hobbies or taking them out to meet people.
Advocate for them, If our parents need help from the government or other organizations, we should speak up for them.
Plan for the future, We should talk to our parents about what they want as they get older. This includes discussing things like where they want to live and what kind of care they prefer.
Set a good example, By taking care of our parents, we teach our own children how to treat us when we get old.
Balance responsibilities, We need to find a way to take care of our parents while also managing our own families and work.
Just like children have rights, parents also have rights, especially when they’re old.
Right to dignity, Parents have the right to be treated with respect and dignity. They shouldn’t be insulted or made to feel worthless.
Right to basic needs, They have the right to food, shelter, and clothing. These should be provided even if they can’t afford it themselves.
Right to health care, Old parents have the right to proper medical care. This includes regular check-ups and treatment for illnesses.
Right to safety, They have the right to live in a safe environment, free from abuse or neglect.
Right to property, Parents have the right to own and manage their property. Their children shouldn’t force them to give it up.
Right to make decisions, As long as they’re mentally capable, parents have the right to make decisions about their own lives.
Right to socialize, They have the right to meet friends and participate in social activities.
Right to love and affection, Parents have the right to receive love and emotional support from their children.
Why Are Some Children Mistreating Their Parents?
It’s hard to understand why anyone would hurt their own parents. But there are some reasons why this might be happening:
Money problems, Sometimes, children are struggling with money. They might see their parents as a burden and get angry about having to support them.
Lack of time, Many people are very busy with work and their own families. They might feel stressed about having to care for their parents too.
Change in family structure, In the past, many families lived together. Now, more people live in small houses with just their spouse and children. There might not be room for parents.
Loss of respect, Some people have lost respect for old people. They think old people aren’t useful anymore.
Selfishness, Some children only think about themselves. They don’t want to give up their comfort to help their parents.
Drug/alcohol or like problems When people are addicted to drugs or alcohol, they sometimes do bad things, even to their own family.
Mental health issues, Sometimes, people who hurt their parents might have mental health problems that make them act in harmful ways.
Lack of awareness, Some people might not realize how important it is to care for their parents. They might not have been taught about this duty.
What Can We Do to Stop This?
Seeing parents being mistreated is very upsetting. But there are things we can do to help:
Teach children about respect, We need to teach young people to respect their elders. This should start from a young age, both at home and in schools.
Make laws stronger, There should be strict laws to protect old people from abuse. These laws should be enforced properly.
Provide support services, Government and community groups should offer services to help families care for old people. This could include day care centers or home help services.
Raise awareness, We should talk more about the importance of caring for old parents. This can be done through TV shows, newspapers and community meetings.
Offer counseling, Families who are having trouble caring for old parents should be able to get help from counselors.
Create support groups, We can start groups where people caring for old parents can meet and share their experiences. This can help them feel less alone.
Improve healthcare, Better and more affordable healthcare for old people can make it easier for families to care for them.
Golden card / Ayushman Health card is a great initiative of health care revolution in India but there should be single window system for senior citizens.
Encourage family values, We should celebrate families that take good care of their old members. This can inspire others to do the same.
Address root causes, We need to look at why some children are mistreating their parents. If it’s because of money problems or stress, we should find ways to help with these issues.
Report abuse, If we see or hear about old people being mistreated, we should report it to the authorities. We shouldn’t stay quiet about it.
What Can Society Do?
As a society, we need to take strong steps to stop these bad things from happening:
Make it a priority, We often talk about problems like drugs and violence. We should also talk about how to treat old people better.
Change our thinking, We need to see caring for old parents as something good, not as a burden.
Create age-friendly cities, Our towns / villages / cities / muhallas / colonies should be easy for old people to live in. This means things like having ramps for wheelchairs and special services for the elderly.
Encourage multi-generation living, We can find ways to make it easier for families to live together or close to each other.
Provide financial help, The government could give money or tax breaks to people who are caring for their old parents.
Government is providing old age funds to senior citizens or widows which is a golden move but there should be a little increment in this amount and disbursing of funds should be kept under proper supervision.
Train caregivers, We can have programs to teach people how to take care of old people properly.
Use technology, We can use new technologies to help keep old people safe and connected with their families or purchasing medicines online or teach them to book a cab or taxi online, as we have a sufficient online cab / taxi services available now in kashmir too
Celebrate old age, Instead of seeing old age as a problem, we should celebrate the wisdom and experience of our elders.
Why We Can’t Stay Silent
We can’t just keep quiet about this problem. Here’s why:
It’s getting worse, If we don’t do something, more and more old people might be mistreated.
It affects everyone, Today it might be someone else’s parents, but tomorrow it could be our own parents or even us.
It’s against our values, Hurting old people goes against everything we believe in as a society.
It’s unfair, Our parents gave up so much for us. It’s not fair to abandon them when they need us.
It’s a sign of bigger problems, When a society doesn’t care for its old people, it shows that something is wrong with its values.
It’s our responsibility, As members of society, we have a duty to protect those who can’t protect themselves.
It sets a bad example, If we allow this to happen, we’re teaching the next generation that it’s okay to mistreat old people.
It causes suffering, When old people are mistreated, they suffer both physically and emotionally. We should try to prevent this suffering.
Remembering Our Parents’ Sacrifices
When we think about how to treat our parents, we should remember all they’ve done for us:
They gave us life, Our parents brought us into this world and cared for us when we couldn’t care for ourselves.
They educated us, Many parents work hard to send their children to good schools. They want us to have better lives than they had.
They protected us, Our parents kept us safe from harm when we were young. They worried about us and did everything they could to protect us.
They supported our dreams, Many parents encourage their children to follow their dreams, even if it means making sacrifices themselves.
They loved us unconditionally, No matter what we did, our parents still loved us. They forgave our mistakes and stood by us.
They taught us values, Our parents taught us right from wrong. They showed us how to be good people.
They made us strong, By supporting us and sometimes letting us face challenges, our parents helped us become strong and independent.
They put us first, Many times, our parents put our needs before their own. They went without things so we could have what we needed.
The way some children are treating their old parents is very sad. It goes against everything our society believes in. We can’t just sit back and let this happen. We need to take action.
We should remember that our parents gave up so much for us. They worked hard, saved money and did everything they could to give us good lives. Now it’s our turn to take care of them.
As a society, we need to make caring for old people a top priority. We should teach our children to respect and value older people. We should create laws and services that protect and support the elderly.
Each of us has a role to play. We can start by treating our own parents with love and respect. We can help our neighbors who might be struggling to care for their old parents. We can speak up when we see old people being mistreated.
Taking care of our parents isn’t always easy. It can be hard work and sometimes it’s stressful. But it’s the right thing to do. It’s part of being a good person and a good member of society.
Let’s work together to make our community a place where old people are valued and cared for. Let’s show the world that in our land – the garden of saints – (Peer Veer) (Reshi Veer) we know how to respect and honor our elders. This is what our civilization is all about. This is who we are. Let’s make sure we never forget it.