At what age are children expected to start financially taking care of their parents?

[Anonymous]

I started helping them out at 21. Later on I realized, when I got in need of help, there was no one to help, but everyone always expected and happily received help from me. Even when they knew perfectly well, I was the one in need of help.

That was a disappointment about humans, love, family and all. I still cannot help but love them and care for them, but in the face of problems, I was mostly alone.

[midnightmoon05]

I started around 13ish…

started work around 11…I got paid from my after school job… I prob gave my money to my mom…

13ish… I helped buy groceries and cook and took care of our new baby sister who is now an adult.
around 18, I help my parents with banking…

around 23 I got my foot into my career…I helped changed my parents bedroom sets. And replaced all my siblings mattresses. I was the youngest in the family…but I started to make money so I helped. Never ask for anything returned.
When I was going through my divorce… I moved back home… by 13 months in… I had to get back on my own feet… I got a shoe box apt. for myself and my kids who I share custody with my ex hubby.
when I went hiking and broke my foot… my ex hubby helped and my family helped some.

now… we continue to help our family whenever we can and they too help us in different ways…

I have a very good family.
I don’t see any negative if others complain about their family or life … it’s a waste of time.
Life is too short to complain … I put my effort into better myself and my kids… and it has worked well… we are very successful becuase i never blame others and never complain about my short comings… we all have to learn from our mistakes and I did…

[Anonymous]

ideally, never. Adults should know how to be financially responsible and take care of themselves. But of course, shit happens. I’m aware there are unexpected turns in life so even our parents can go through hardships and need help here and there.

But you still can’t expect your child to be completely financially responsible for you.

I love my mother to death but she’s not a financially responsible person at all. she's never had a savings, doesn’t have a credit score, she retired too early cause she just didn’t feel like working anymore. I still have to fight her not to make stupid financial decisions. She currently lives in a shitty trailer with cheap rent. She always talks about how she wants to sell it and get an apartment and I have to explain that apartments are not cheap anymore and she can’t afford it… like why don’t you get it by now?

I was paying the bills when I was 16/17 years old. Teens get jobs so they can have spending money at the mall. They shouldn’t be burdened of the stress of taking care of their parents bills…

Like I said, I love my mom. She kept a roof over my head and she’s made sacrifices to keep me happy. I’m grateful for that so I’m happy to help her out. She took care of us and now I’m taking care of her.

However there is always a part of me that wonders where I would in life if I wasn’t immediately deemed as the breadwinner of the house as soon as I was old enough to get a job… maybe I would of went to college and had a good job at this point.. I didn’t have time to go to school cause I was busy working to support myself and my mom.

Or whenever I hear about how other peoples parents bought them their first cars or paid their way through college I just think “must be nice..” I wish I could of had that…

I will continue to help her as much as I can. I just wish I didn’t have to constantly stress about my own bills AND hers

[jamesgoldman]

Think 16

My early business didn't exactly leave me much more than reinvesting or only turned over a free quid when I did make money

[rosemilk]

they should never be expected to financially take care of their parents. their parents should have planned better and have money saved and set aside. not depend on their child for it. sorry this just really hits home. i hate the whole situation of that issue and i don't support it at all.

[IslaTheWitch]

I don't expect any help from my children or any other people, I secured my future

[midnightmoon05]

That sounds amazing. How will that work?

Obviously we can’t expect them to be taking care of us forever/on a daily bases…I do hope they will help out and come see me when they can.

[IslaTheWitch]

@midnightmoon05 my parents have/had the same way of thinking. My mom, when she lived, she asked only for specific things, like help with making some things done but it was rare... she enjoyed living her life. My father is the same. He is secured financially and simply live as he pleases with his wife. This is how they raised us, always telling us, that we shouldn't never sacrifice our lives for them.

Of course, I was with my mom and I organized the whole help when we found out it's a terminal cancer... but she left everything organized... money for funeral, her will and stuff like that.

So I did the same. I secured my kids already and they will get the rights to my assets in the moment of my death... no court needed, no fights, nothing. Only my lawyer, who knows what to do. If I don't be able to live alone I want them to put me into Seniorenheim.

[midnightmoon05]

Sounds familiar…a plan I am working with my kids.
One thing I learned… if possible…no senior homes…
My older sister out my dad in…it was out of my control…he really didn’t want to… kept asking when he can go home…
Senior home made it worse for him.
I told my sister that dad has money to hire a 24 hr. home care… she refused…because it was her home…
My mom said she is not willing to go to senior home…I asked if she is willing to have a 24 hr. nurse care… she said yes…we are all well off enough to pay for 24 hr. nurses…
This is how it will be for my family as well … no senior homes.
We are financially secure as well as our kids. Like your family and how we are raised to taught.

[jahaims]

Never. It's not the kids job to take care of the parents

[ThaMaskedMarvel]

18 months old.

[DrPepper12]

When they need it