Parents feel an obligation to pay for their children's expenses long after their off-spring have become adults. This results in parents needing to be dependent on the children.Not uncommon is to see grandfathers and grandmothers with little energy, and dreams, precisely because they are dependent on the children.The following story in a diocesan bulletin is helping to educate parents on what they need to do in their retirement years. Stories of this type we see often, which is bringing about a change in the way parents prepare for retirement.
A father had educated all his children and they all were married and had left the family home. The father was diagnosed with a serious decease, and called all the children and their mates to the house.
"I have raised you and sent you to college and took care of the expenses for marriage and all that was necessary. You know I am not in good health, and not able to work, and I went into debt to educate the four of you. Here is a piece of paper to write down what you can repay."
The children stared vacantly at each other. The second son who was not in the best of circumstances wrote down 50 thousand dollars. The other children were, as at an auction, deciding what to write. The oldest son wrote down 20 thousand, the third son 15 thousand and the daughter 10 thousand.
There were no visits to the sick father or telephone calls. He called the children again to his bedside and this time only the children came.
"I don't want any fighting over the inheritance after my death, and bad feelings among the four of you, so I have prepared everything with the help of a lawyer. You will all get 5 times more than you wrote on the pieces of paper. After this is deducted there will be about 3 million dollars left which will be given to charity."
Hearing these word they were all struck dumb, and their faces turned deathly pale.
