We've all been at the front row of Carlos Yulo's ongoing family feud and Filipinos are feeling divided on who to side with for a few weeks now. But TikTok content creator Mama LuLu, who makes hilarious videos with her son Oliver as her cameraman over on @otakoyakisoba on TikTok and IG, has made her opinion heard about toxic parenting: "Children shouldn't be obliged to be breadwinners."
TikTok creator Mama LuLu on why children shouldn't be obliged to become breadwinners
In a video posted on September 11, Mama LuLu's son Oliver asks, "Ma, do you think children should be the breadwinners of the family after they graduate?" Mama LuLu's frank response was, "No, it should be up to the children if they will give to their parents or not." We hear you, Mama LuLu!
@otakoyakisoba Mama LuLu’s OPINION on children being expected to be the breadwinner of the family.
? original sound - otakoyakisoba
Oliver further asks if it would make the children look ungrateful, Mama LuLu says, "It's not the child's obligation [to do that]. Did they say, 'Give birth to me'?"
"It's really hard," Mama LuLu acknowledged. "But it's still not the child's obligation to provide for the family they grew up in."
In her (and our, TBH) opinion, children should also be given the freedom to pursue their dreams…before having to think about giving back to their parents. "Let's push them to do what they want to do with their lives. Not what we [parents] want them to do. They have their own lives that they should take care of as well." Say it louder for the people in the back!
READ MORE: When Does Traditional Filipino Parenting Become Toxic?
At the end of the day, according to Mama LuLu, parents should be there to give advice and encouragement to their children.
However, the California-based content creators acknowledge that this generational problem is also partly due to the lack of action on the part of the Filipino government. If parents are given more support and opportunities to be gainfully employed, which will improve their livelihoods, there wouldn't be too much pressure for the next generation of working adults to provide for their families.
Oliver also clarified in an Instagram comment that children can and should help their parents out, but only if they're able to do so. IMO, it's very similar to the in-flight emergency advisory: Put on your own oxygen masks before helping someone else. Likewise, make sure you're in a good position (financially, emotionally, physically, etc.) to help your loved ones so you don't end up repeating this toxic cycle.
The mother-son duo were praised for tackling the issue. Some also gave their opinions on the matter. "If you raise your children properly, they will willingly help you out," one TikTok user commented.
Another commented agreed, "[Children] are happier to give when they're not being forced [to do so]."
Wdyt, do you agree with Mama LuLu and Oliver?
