Overview of the Situation

In a disturbing revelation from Singapore, a man has turned to social media to vent about his parents' relentless demand for financial support, despite a glaring history of neglect and instability during his upbringing. His heartfelt post on the Reddit forum r/askSingapore has sparked a fiery debate online.

The Parents' Demands

The man, who didn't disclose his name, described how his parents, both in their mid-50s, are fully capable of supporting themselves, yet they continue to seek financial assistance from him and his siblings. His father works as a Grabfood driver, while his mother, despite being in good health, remains unemployed, often citing fatigue and a sheer unwillingness to work. “They’re both healthy, yet they live in a rental flat where they constantly fail to pay bills because most of their money goes towards my dad's gambling,” he lamented.

Financial Strain on the Children

Even though the parents already receive approximately S$900 monthly from their children—about S$300 from each sibling—the demands never cease. “Despite our attempts to set boundaries and say ‘no,’ they persistently ask for more money the very next day,” the son revealed. An added layer of frustration comes from their reaction when financial support falters: “On tighter months, they get upset when we don’t send them money.”

The Impact of Neglect

The harsh reality is that this man's childhood was fraught with instability. Forced to move between relatives and friends' homes during development years because they had no stable residence, he recounted a particularly difficult episode when the family camped at a beach for nearly three months. Early on, he and his siblings had to fend for themselves, even starting work at the tender age of 14, with their father taking a portion of their meager earnings instead of providing any support.

Disillusionment and Reflection

Expressing his profound disillusionment, the son stated, “I truly feel they don’t deserve my money. Their toxic behavior is pushing me to consider distancing myself from them, especially as I want to focus on my newborn.” He urged others not to shoulder the financial burdens of their parents, particularly in situations where proper care and support were lacking in their own upbringing.

Community Reactions

The conversation gained traction as other Reddit users chimed in with suggestions. One proposed that rather than sending cash, the siblings should directly pay the parents' bills or purchase vouchers to ensure that funds are used for essential needs instead of gambling or unnecessary expenses. “It’s important to clarify that you will cover necessary bills only,” a user advised.

Advice to Prioritize Personal Families

Another commenter emphasized the importance of prioritizing their own families and warned against becoming a safety net for parents who failed to fulfill their responsibilities. “You shouldn’t have to bear the weight of their financial mistakes,” he asserted.

Extreme Suggestions

A final commenter took a more extreme stance, urging the siblings to disconnect entirely from their parents. “No parent should feel entitled to financial support when they have not provided a nurturing environment,” she argued. “You didn’t choose to be born into this situation.”

Conclusion

This family's heartbreaking story resonates with many who face similar dilemmas about parental expectations versus personal responsibility, raising the question: How far should children go to support their parents financially when their own upbringing was fraught with neglect?