If you met your parents for the first time today, would you be friends? Do you have commonalities, share opinions, tastes, etc.? If not, then why would you care about them? Just because they've cared for you for the years so far? You may just be doing it just because you think that's what you're "meant" to do.

I think a lot of people in our culture and society today feel obligated to care about their parents, but if they're really honest with themselves, they feel rather detached from those who brought them up. They sit in awkward silences during family get-togethers, and occassionally call home, but then feel as though they aren't fulfilling some sacred duty. My opinion: it's all socially conditioned.

Have you ever wondered why you feel emotional about something? Emotion is the body's response to something that you value. If you value achievement, you'll might get emotional about sports; if you value honesty in a relationship, you'll be upset by witnessing dishonesty in some latest film. With regards to people, you care about the people that you admire - people who exemplify qualities that you value. If you genuinely care about your parents, it's because they consistently act in accordance to your what you value, or provide you with something you value. I took the time to think about the rammifications of new idea, and found it very rewarding.

There's no reason to be afraid that you don't have feelings for someone - and acting as if you care about someone is artificial. The way that I feel is that this is my life, and I don't have to live it according to anyone else's standards. If I care about someone, then that's great and I'll express that. If I don't, then that's fine too, and I refuse to feel pressured into expressing something that isn't real.

Growing up with your parents is just a coincident, and there's no intrinsic reason to feel any specific way about them. In my opinion, one should treat that relationship just like one treats any other.

Sincerely,
PyThoughts

P.S. I tweeted about this before I wrote the post to see what my friends' opinions were, and these are some of the responses I received:

"@graemeboy they decided to have you, and it was a selfish decision. so the whole 'respect your parents' is bullshit unless they deserve it"

"@graemeboy society instills this idea that we should be grateful to them, but how can you be grateful for something you didn't ask for?"

"@graemeboy well, you didn't even ask to be here, so no. but society makes us think we should and sometimes they are worth caring about."