My parents have grown distant now that they’re well-financed by us 5 siblings

By Nim Cam Sang February 20, 2025 | 03:05 pm PT

Some parents change their lifestyle once their children provide for them. Illustration photo by Pexels

The amount of money my parents receive each month from their five children, including me, is more than what I earn working away from home.

I, 40, am the youngest of five siblings. My parents are in their 70s. My parents live in the countryside, next door to one of my brothers and his wife. The remaining four siblings live far away and only visit home occasionally.

Each month, my siblings and I send money home. The amount our parents receive is more than what I actually earn.

Still, we consider it our duty and responsibility to support our parents, and none of us has missed a month. The problem is that we have noticed their calls to us have become less frequent over time. Sometimes, they do not check in with us for up to six months and they no longer call us at all during holidays or Tet (Lunar New Year).

When I asked why, they only replied: "We are the parents, we do not need to call anyone. If anyone wants to know how we are, they should call us." Hearing this made me feel a bit heartbroken.

I moved to another locality to build my career, and for nearly five years, they have rarely tried to visit and see how I was doing. When they did, they would only stay for a few hours, saying that they were not used to staying in an unfamiliar place.

On the other hand, whenever there is a community event or trip in the countryside, my parents are quick to spend the whole day participating without complaining.

I feel that the money my siblings and I provide has led them to change drastically.

My parents live alone in their house but they have three latest-model TVs and an air conditioner in every room. They also buy a lot more household items, and even the house itself has been renovated several times.

I feel sad because during Tet, the biggest holiday of the year, my wife and I could only return for a day, but our whole family only spent a few minutes together at the dinner table. After that, my father got engrossed in YouTube, and my mother was scrolling through her phone.

I do not regret sending money to support them. I just feel a bit sad because the interaction between my parents and their grandchildren is becoming more and more distant. I sincerely hope that others in similar situations can share their thoughts so my heart can feel more at peace.

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.