I’ve been seeing many posts about the generations today pointing out that children aren’t meant to be retirement plans. This is true, and I stand by this. Do not have kids if you only plan to squeeze out their wallets once they’re able to produce income.

But I do hope that people also realize where gratitude should fall in all of this. Up to this day, my parents point out to me that I don’t need to support them— to think of myself above them. I admire my parents for this thought, but it will never stop me from thinking that they deserve so much for what they did for us.

So I think it’s important to note that it’s not only a matter of who depends on who when that time comes, but it’s also a matter of acknowledging that line of being thankful. I want to spoil them, I want to support them, I want to give back simply because they deserve it.

Yes, we are not retirement plans, but that does not mean we get to turn our backs on them. It doesn’t have to be in the form of money—help them prepare dinner, help them do the groceries, make breakfast for them, just be there for them when the time comes that you can stand on your own, cause as an adult it is our responsibility to give credit where credit is due.