As children, all we usually pray and long for is that fact that our parents are wealthy enough to regularly give us goodies and that by the time we're old we won't have to go through many struggles as we'll be able to benefit from their wealth in making a better life for ourselves, but then when it comes to the other way around, in which children are made to face the consequences of their parents actions, we're all discontent about it, but then is it ideal or not? In this article I'll be stating my opinion on this subject matter.
I remember when I was growing up, there were several days when I was just wishing my parents would just walk up to me and say, Son, we're actually very wealthy but kept it from you so you'll have a humble beginning and learn valuable lessons about what it means to not have, but then as this never comes, I'm still pleased with my parents and cherish them because even from the little they had, they never for once deprived me of necessity they could afford, even to the point of taking a loan and going into debt for my sake.
Now while all of those were for my own good and go on to make me happy, it's worth knowing that nothing that had them leave behind some debt and I'm left to face the repercussion of paying back, I definitely won't be happy, and my feeling would be justified because it's the responsibility of a parent to cater to their children's needs and help with their shortcomings, not the other way round.
In my opinion, if the consequences I'm left to face are helping them clear a few debts, even though I'm not happy, I'll still do it because one of the beauties of family is the shared responsibility and love that abides between everyone. As a family, we've all, on several occasions, sat down and decided on things we'd love to bring to reality, and we did at the end of the day, because rather than leave it for our parents to do everything, now that we're old enough, we split the responsibility to ease the tension of doing that for our parents.
But regardless of how much shared responsibility is within a family, parents shouldn't for any reason leave behind things that would make life difficult for their kids. You can imagine several centuries ago when parents would go into debt, and to pay their debt, their children would be taken into slavery. That's very bad of the parents, and they should be the ones to face the consequences of their actions, not leaving it for their kids.
Then one angle I'm looking at this from is the fact that paraventure, if it's allowed, children would be punished for their parents shortcomings. I think it'll deter parents from committing crimes or offenses that will warrant such from happening; after all, no parents can really stand watching their kids go through pains, but then in the advent that they're dead when such consequences spring out, then there's nothing they can do, and that's why I believe everyone should face the consequences of their actions.
In developed countries, such things won't even be allowed, because they have bodies that monitor the well-being of children, making sure they're not maltreated, exploited, or abused. Aside from those bodies, there are laws that even prohibit such things and protect kids from parents crimes, and even if there aren't, I don't know how it's reasonable to anyone that they punish one man for another man's sins.
All photos are mine.
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Here in Africa children sometimes have to pay for the wrongs of their parents. No sort of child protection services here and God forbid these parents die leaving the kids behind. It’s just a sad situation to be in and no child should be made to go through this.
It's dishearting that we don't have such systems here in Africa and it can go on to cause issues for children.
We'll sail through.
Let’s hope for the best.
This is actually one angle to look at, but I don't really know if it will be practicable though. This was a nice read, I enjoyed every bit of it.
Yea even though it seems cool, it might not be good enough should the parent die.
I really can hold my heart and pay the debt my father left behind even though it's not funny but the sins of my father? Oh no...I wish it doesn't happen at all... everyone is meant to face the music they started and not children suffering for what they know nothing about.
But why did God even say that in the beginning Bible? Maybe to make parents be conscious of the way they live their lives? I don't know 🤷
Yes o, even though we'll still try and help with the payment, it's not easy to deal with such, everyone should do and face their own consequences.
Thank God I'm not a religious person, you'll explain it for us.
That's how it has been in Yoruba land according to the history heard. If your parents are onto debts before leaving the world, the children left behind has to pay up the debts and also, if anyone is owing them, they hàve to pay the children.
When Dad died, so many people came to pay what they owed my father.
Omo that's serious, but then it's both good and bad, because if the debt is much it'll be a challenge to the children.
I don't agree with children paying for their parents sins; everyone should pay for their own sins, be they parents or children.
But I am yet to understand why we in Africa feel that parents can pay for children's sins and vice versa. A few days ago, an elderly man duped someone I know a huge sum of money, and instead of placing curses on the man, they kept cursing his children and generations to come. I have seen many situations like this.
I have also seen parents being arrested for crimes their children committed.
This is just a sad situation.