Is it unfilial of me not to give money to my mother anymore?

By Nam Thanh   April 14, 2025 | 07:22 pm PT
I’ve decided not to give money to my mother anymore, as it always ends up in the hands of my brother and his wife, who contribute nothing to support her.

20 years ago, my parents sold our 100-square-meter house in the city center. The proceeds were used to pay off debt and support my brother’s business, but he wasted the money on partying, contributing nothing to the household. My parents, instead of working, relied on the leftover funds until it ran out, and our family had to move into a rental. At that time, I was in sixth grade, too young to understand. I finished 10th grade but had to drop out because I couldn’t afford school fees, so I began working, eventually gaining a vocational qualification and working as a laborer.

My brother married and lived with my parents, but my sister-in-law was no better off. They had children but left them with my parents, letting them spend all their time on phones, so now their kids are behind and face uncertain futures. My brother and his wife ran a bar, but their earnings never lasted, and when they ran out of money, they borrowed from others. I grew tired of this and left home with nothing, just to escape.

Knowing that our family didn’t have assets, I sent my parents two portions of money—one for them to use and one to save for later to buy me wedding gold. Both portions were borrowed by my brother, and when I married, my mother secretly borrowed money from relatives to buy me gold. When I found out, I was deeply upset but stayed silent, continuing to give my parents money each month for their expenses. Yet, the money always went to my brother.

Over time, I sent less money and more food for my parents. My brother borrowed money to open a small noodle shop, but when I asked, my mother said the business was not profitable and my brother was exhausted from working. In contrast, I work as a laborer, but my mother never asks about my work.

Now that my parents are sick, my brother doesn’t care for them and blames everything on me. The money I have given them isn’t much—just enough to cover their medicine and treatment in emergencies—but it is spent on rent and other expenses. My brother doesn’t contribute at all. Even when my father fell ill, my brother drove him to the hospital but didn’t offer any money, so my mother had to call me to borrow some. I lent her the money for the hospital bill, but after my father was discharged, she asked for more, claiming it was for groceries. I gave it to her, but in reality, she gave the money to my brother.

Additionally, any money relatives gave for my father’s illness also went to my brother. Now, after realizing the truth, I no longer give money to my mother, and she blames me. I feel torn between my responsibility to my family and my duty to my parents. I still need to care for my own small family with my laborer’s wage and save for my child, who doesn’t receive anything from his paternal side.

What should I do to fulfill my filial duty in this situation?

 
 
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