Ranticism

The Retirement Plan

The Retirement Plan

An insurance; a security fund for the uncertain future. That is how the retirement plan is viewed and used. And the unfortunate thing was—- that is how the older generation sees the current one: a retirement plan. And even worse, this kind of mindset was forced inside the minds of the current generation that rejects such.

No, I am not antagonising the natural desire to bring life into this world, nor am I forcing the mindset to the reader that it is better to not give birth at all. Please do understand that you all have different takes on this matter, be it an elder of the same generation. And be reminded that this is the author's experience and take on the matter.

The upbringing of the topic was always in this scenario: a reunion, a simple get together of the family and then there you are— the young generation nearing or are already twenty and up— and you would be the one serving the elders, as a tradition, as the elders enjoy their time conversing with the others and telling their adventures and stories. Of course, seeing it in our perspective is very enticing to join, that you want to be part of the conversation— hell, you will even seat there to hear their stories of the old and revel in the elegance, simplicity, suffering and triumphs of their peak life— you would naturally finish all the chores as fast as you could and then join them on their table and hear their conversation of stories and tales.

And that would be the wrong move that you will ever do for that day. Once you sit in that single empty chair surrounded by the elders, their conversations will slowly descend into a whisper-like tone and their attention no longer to each other but to the sole young one on the table. Then, that is when it will start. The rapid firing of questions, one after another without even any break nor giving a time to answer each one; the constant inspection of the body, the harsh criticism whether it be I am fat or skinny, the constant checking out of my face and will be reminded to take their persona remedy to acne, pimple and any flaw that should not be at my face; the constant 'advices' of what your future should look like or what future should you aspire for.

Then, that certain feeling soon follows. At first, it will feel like all the attention is on you and that is fine, 'they are just checking what is happening in your life, catching up and stuff' is what you thought of the moment. But as the conversations go longer, the more it feels like they are stepping in, the more that it feels like they are telling you what to do in your life— as if they are forcing their ways, their long forgotten dreams to you and that it is your job to make it come true. The longer it goes, the more it feels like, you are just there, existing as their hope, as their dream dumping site, as their long needed 'salvation' and 'satisfaction' because they chose another path and regretted it and now, you must chose the path they did not to see if they would be satisfied with it in the end.

Then, the dreaded topic comes, and even then, you are not to say anything but to nod— to say anything is a dire punishment that will lead to the consequence of being called a disrespectful child. The questions soon followed, again, in a rapid fire motion. 'Are you in a relationship?', 'Do you have a lover?', 'When are you getting married?' and in spite of all those questions, one always stands out.

"When are you having a child?" That, that is a question that whatever way it was answered, it will always end up telling you to have one— have a child, have an offspring— bring a life in this world. Well, it may sound that they mean great, that they are only thinking of the best interest for you. You may even agree if their reasoning was justifiable and is indeed true. But no, their reasoning was the complete opposite and if heard by others, the sidings were always split.

You may even agree to have a child if the reasoning was justifiable— but the reasoning was 'So that you have someone to take care of you when you are old.'

...

Does that mean that you are only bringing a life to this world to handle the burden of your existence? They want you to give birth, have a child, just for them to be tied up to your side as a caretaker? Bring a life into this world so that they will not be able to achieve and get their dreams but instead be by your side, to take care of you and handle the burdens in which they did not even ask in the first place? They did not even ask to be born, let alone shoulder the burdens of the parent. But then why?

Forget about gratitude, hell even forget about them owing the parents something' they were only bringing a child into this world just because you want someone to take care of them when they were old and not bring child in this world because they want them to flourish, they want them seeing them grow, to see them continue the legacy that they left; they're bringing out a life into this world just for their own interests, just for their own benefit and what is the difference with that? Between a retirement plan and a backup, something to catch them when they fall, nothing, nothing at all. Treating a child as the only 'salvation' when they are already old and cripple. For that kind of mindset to be forced on you is like saying that you are also a retirement plan, that you were born because they want someone to take care of them in the future; and not because they want to bring a life into this world and see how their legacy flourishes on your hand. It's like indirectly saying that you are born just to take care of them when they are old, that you are born for the own benefit, that you are born because they want someone to shoulder the burdens that they have and not because you're born for the sake of being alive in this world.

And if we include the 'unconditional love' in the equation, unconditional love does not exist at all. Because you're bringing a child into this world, you are investing in them giving them the love that they need, food, shelter— because you were expecting them to return those to you. it's as if you were not aware that as a parent it is your obligation to do so, it's an obligation to give them food, shelter, clothes, and things that they need to survive in this field until they are old enough to decide for themselves. that is your obligation— to love them, nurture them as they are young just like you were. And if you were expecting them to return those things, then what you're doing is not unconditional love, you are doing those for a certain condition— that you are going to give them this and exchange of them taking their taking care of you and any sense it is so twisted and so weird that you are going to bring life in this world just for that. doing for your own benefit again and again and if the child questions you and you say that 'you are only in this world because i want you to take care of me when i grow old' is like saying that 'you only matter because I can get a benefit from you'.

And as a child to hear it— it it's disheartening, it breaks their heart— their little hearts— it is sickening to hear that they are only in this world not because they're human but because they are a benefit and they are an investment for you when you get old.

A retirement plan. Bord into this world not because of life, but because of the purpose to take care of them when they are old. You may also feel like it as you grow old, even hear it directly from your parents. It's heartbreaking.

And to have them bring that topic and even make that mindset instilled on you, is even more heartbreaking and disturbing.

This... is one of the many rants of this author.