It is often said, “Raise children to prevent old age.”

Since ancient times, people have had a sense of worry, so they also need a sense of security in raising their children. They always think that more children will bring more happiness, and their later life will be joyful.

But when people raise children, they don’t realize the sadness of getting old, and sometimes things just don’t go as planned.

During this year’s Chinese New Year, a neighbor of my grandmother came to our house. Since he didn’t live with his children, we asked him after he arrived, “Is it better to live with children or alone after getting old?”

At this moment, the old man’s response was, “Living alone. You can play however you want, and living with children involves too many concerns.”

Upon hearing this, everyone around laughed, and soon the old man’s response went viral throughout the whole town.

Many people said that even in old age, he still wanted to have fun, and he felt that living with children was inconvenient. Such elderly people are truly rare.

Maybe many people took the old man’s response as a joke, thinking that the elderly just want to have fun in their old age.

Life has many sorrows. Some elderly people, when they get old, don’t necessarily not want to live with their children; it’s that their children don’t want to live with them.

I remember when I was very young, my grandmother came to our house once. Her eyes were red, and my mother, seeing this, asked her, “Are you crying? What happened?”

My grandmother replied, “My grandson loves me. He gave me an onion to eat. The onion was delicious, and it made me cry because it was spicy.”

At that time, my mother was very happy, thinking that my grandmother was living very well at home. Later, I found out that my grandmother was often scolded by her daughter at home and cried a lot.

The red eyes were not from the spicy onion but from being wronged and crying at home.

Sometimes, for the sake of saving face for their children, elderly people, even if their children have done something to upset them, won’t tell the truth in front of others to protect their children’s reputation.

Sometimes, when elderly people say they don’t want to live with their children and want to have fun on their own, it’s not because they really want to have fun, but because their children simply don’t want to live with them.

Which elderly person doesn’t like to be with their children, holding their grandchildren, and having a joyful time at home?

Some elderly people, after getting old, will face mistreatment from their sons and will choose to move out on their own.

Parents spend their whole lives for their children, but when the children grow up, the ones the children cherish the most are their own kids, not their parents.

Throughout their lives, parents work hard for their children, planning how to raise them even before they are born. After they are born, almost all their money is spent on their children.

But few people save money for their parents or prepare a plan for their parents’ old age.

Recently, my friend told me that her grandmother was sick, but her uncle didn’t take care of her. Her aunt even went to her grandmother’s house and, in front of her sickbed, pointed at my friend’s mother and said, “I won’t take care of the elderly. I hate doing these dirty tasks.”

Upon hearing this, my friend’s grandmother, with tears in her eyes, said, “I wish I had died earlier so that you wouldn’t have to suffer.”

Children are raised by parents from birth, but when they grow up, they despise their parents’ hardships. Yet, while despising their parents’ hardships, they go on to do the same for their own children.

This cycle continues from one generation to the next, and life always goes round and round, with people always sacrificing for love.

When elderly people are sick, many of their descendants can say hurtful things in front of them, which shows that they don’t usually hold their elderly in high regard.

Everyone has their own bottom line. After the elderly’s heart is broken, they may choose to move out of their home, even though they still miss it.

People should have hope, but they shouldn’t have too high expectations for their children.

When people are young, they always hope that their children will be better than others, and they want their children to get high scores. But how many children can actually achieve that?

When they get old, they always hope that their children will be dutiful to them, but in this world, raising children is sometimes like an investment.

If you’re lucky, your investment will pay off, but if you’re not, even if you invest a lot, you may still grow old alone.

No matter what, people should always remember that relying on themselves is the best, and sometimes, children can’t be relied upon.

Recently, a friend’s grandfather got sick and needed a major surgery, but he was worried that if he had the surgery, it would burden his family.

My friend’s grandfather has a retirement salary of 18,000 yuan a month, but he doesn’t want to spend it and hopes to leave some money for his family after he passes away.

An elderly person is willing to give up their own life for their family, and that’s why they think this way.

But sometimes, your kindness may not be reciprocated by your descendants. Few parents abandon their children, but few children are very filial to their parents.

I was at the hospital before, and many children were there because of a minor cold, with their parents taking care of them.

When the parents saw their children about to receive an injection, they couldn’t bear it and felt heartbroken.

But in the hospital, there were many elderly people who came to seek treatment, hobbling on their own, without anyone by their side.

People always love their children the most, but they shouldn’t have too high expectations for them, because sometimes, your kindness may not be reciprocated.

Many people hide their suffering in their hearts. Perhaps in the eyes of many people, they just told a joke and made others think that they enjoy having fun in old age, so they don’t live with their children.

But only they know why they don’t live with their children. Only they understand this suffering.