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NRI son torn between ageing parents and children's future
He noted that family toxicity and societal pressure he faces in India are making the decision harder.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 04, Jan 2026
- 02:48 EST
- 68
Representative image / Pexels
A 30-year-old Non Resident Indian put to words the evergreen dilemma of the diaspora, to return for the ageing parents or to stay for the future of the children.
The anonymous Redditor sought help from fellow netizens as he is found himself struggling with the life-altering decision. In his post, titled, 'Living abroad as a only son: Caught Between Responsibility and Reality', he pointed out that he is the only son to parents who are almost 60. While the ageing parents are currently healthy, he cannot stop thinking about how his realities will shift as they age further.
Expressing his love, he said, "I genuinely love them (his parents) and intend to return to India in the future if they need me."
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But what makes the decision complicated is what he experiences each time he visits his motherland, he noted, "For now, staying abroad seems manageable. However, every time I visit India, I find myself conflicted about permanently returning. Apart from the usual challenges of living in India, there’s significant toxicity and excessive involvement from relatives on both sides of the family."
Posing the question to other netizens who have faced similar troubles, he enquired how others are navigating the challenge.
The online community sympathised with his struggles and urged him to find the solution that best suits him, noting that he already knows the answer and should not care about the society's opinions. Many even narrated their own struggles with the decision, sharing tales of how they chose one over the other and continue to have tinges of regret in spite of the merits of their choice.
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