But I'm not sure that's the only kind of relationship that exists (or should exist) between a parent and child.
Part of the appropriate raising of a child is the fostering of a positive emotional relationship between the parent and child. The nature of any such close relationship requires that each party give to the other, with only secondary regard to self, to promote the other's well-being. That's what love is about. Given the existence of such a relationship, kids are not partaking in the relationship unless they are willing to help their parents out, whether financially or emotionally, or perhaps in other ways. One would expect, then, that the sign of a good family is that the children are willing to support their parents. They feel that they owe their parents something, not because their parents have supported them physically, but because their parents love them and they love their parents. And the parents have a right to expect that, as they have loved their children, so their children will love them and will display that love in caring for them. It's not necessarily something that will happen, but it is reasonable for parents to feel this way.
In addition, it's been my experience that parents usually give to their children far more than is strictly required to care for them. This supererogatory support (sorry, I just had to insert that word, it's one of my favorites :-) ) on the part of the parent does require, even in strict equity relationships, a similar return on the part of the child. |
