what do you "owe" your parents?

Answer 1

I should "owe" them a lot, but they don't require anything back, except my love.

Answer 2

You owe your parents everything. They are only people and do the best they can with what they have. Some are able and some are not and most are in the middle some place. You are the sum total of all your experiences and both the good and bad make you who you are today. Check yourself out. If you are OK, then they did OK and that's pretty good. If you have problems, welcome to the world, it's your turn to take care of yourself. There are no guarantees that come with children or parents and remember the child/parent relationship changes and reverses at some point. You will become the responsible party. What will they owe you?

Answer 3

I think you owe your parents the same that you own any other human being living on this planet. I cannot say respect because I believe that has to be earned and they might be really bad parents not worthy of your respect. Perhaps you might owe them a thank you for you being alive, but on the other hand if I were a starving child in Africa who was certain to lead an absolutely dreadful existence then perhaps I would not be so thankful for being alive. Perhaps in the end you don't owe them anything apart from civility, and that you would or should give to everyone regardless if they are your parents or not.

Answer 4

Thanks!

When is the last time you told Mom & Dad "Thank you" for all those times you begged for money, or putting up with all your whining, crying, bellyaches, fake temperatures & occasional real pains through the years, and of course all those tiny 'boo-boos' they made better. Do I need to go on?

OK, go back even further, and be sure to give thanks to your parents for feeding you, clothing you, holding you, rocking you back to sleep when you were scared, lonely, or overfed. Oh, be sure to thank them (at least twice, each) for changing all those messy "green" diapers you had when you were a baby too!

And while you're at it, be sure to thank them for conceiving you & then having you, because without them you wouldn't be here. If you were adopted, thank your adoptive parents as well, because they opened the doors to their house and their hearts in welcoming you into their life. They didn't have to you know.

I guess the only ones that don't owe their parents anything are those little ones that were aborted. I think at a minimum, it's the parents of those children that truly need our prayers and support. God bless you all & have a wonderful life. That was really a very good question!

Answer 5

I owe them the Love and Kindness thay gave me in the days when I was helpless and knew nothing but cry. I owe them for the best education and growing me up in a good atmosphere and that they still loves me.
But I know even if I serve them the whole life, it wouldn't equal their share..but I try my best to make them happy and be loved.

Answer 6

I'm not a touchy-feely type person, so I never have been good at showing love, but I have tried to live my life by the principles they taught me. Also, I am 53 and I have mowed their yard, trimmed their hedges, and helped take care of the place since I was 10. That should count for something.

Answer 7

The things that I owe my parents are:
1. Love
2. Respect
3. Support
4. Help them if they need help
5. My life and
6. Future and
7. Happiness

Answer 8

If your parents are the ones that took care of you while growing up you "owe" them respect and honor and you should pay in full.

Answer 9

As a mother, I don't believe my children 'owe' me anything. I'd like to think that my actions, over the years, has made them like me, maybe even love me. Respect needs to be earned too.

Some parents seem to expect an automatic love and respect from their offspring whilst not giving them anything to love or respect.

Answer 10

Your forgiveness then your love.

My father was a despicable man when I was young, he died in 2002 of cancer. My family kept telling me about things that made them think his spirit was still around.

I realized at some point that I still hated him for his abuses and forgave him from my heart. The next morning my brother called from Afghanistan and told me that he had seen our father in a dream and that he was ready to move on now but was waiting for someone.

Two days later I received word that my brother was killed by a IED.

I realized then that hate can bind us and our loved ones while forgiveness and love frees them.