For the older generation in our country, it is very gratifying to see children getting married and having children. Especially in rural areas, people have a strong sense of family and always want more people in their families. Even if they have a hard and tiring time bringing up children, they still encourage the younger generation to have children. Raising children is not easy and numerous parents have taken it upon themselves to help young people raise their children.
But things have changed in rural areas in recent years. Some parents no longer take over bringing up their children. Some even prefer to pay someone who works outside the home to look after them. This approach may not seem like the frugality of rural elders, but it is actually ubiquitous today. Many people wonder about this; why are rural parents now willing to let go? Have they changed their minds?
In fact, most of these phenomena are occurring in relatively economically advanced rural areas. Today, many young people from the 80s and 90s onwards are in their prime child-rearing years, and most of their fathers are only 50 or 60. Many are still capable of working. The thinking of these older people has also changed dramatically. They no longer think that they can rely on their children for their old age. Having savings on hand is king. As a result, many of them will only help take care of their children for a while after they are born and not for long. When their grandchildren are two or three, they will let go and then remain busy earning money.
Unlike the parents of old, today's elders have indeed changed somewhat. In the old days, when rural areas were economically underdeveloped, few people had the opportunity to go out. However, the current rural elders have plenty of spare time. Every year, many of them go out for a trip. When they have plenty of time, they will also play mahjong and square dance in the square.
Besides the change of parents' concepts, today's rural parents are reluctant to help take care of their children. The most important is related to the concept of childcare. In many families, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is essentially an insurmountable divide. The difference between the two is even greater when it comes to having children. There are many young people who do not have time to bring up children. They have to leave their children with their parents, but they do not agree with their parents' parenting methods. There are often conflicts between the two generations. Some parents choose to let go completely after all this so that the relationship between the two parties does not become more strained.
Often, those seniors who are willing to let go of helping with child care are also financially well-off and have no health problems. They have enough capital to enjoy the rest of their lives. On the other hand, in some areas where the economy is relatively backward, parents still have to help young people who go out to work to take care of their children, which is why left-behind children and left-behind elderly people still exist. However, the elderly are not obliged to help the young people take care of their children.