以前看過很多觀點，恨不得把孝順父母幾個字從字典里挖去。說什麼封建殘餘思想作怪，說什麼小農經濟的產物。總之，與現代化格格不入。說什麼美國孩子一滿十八歲就獨立了，人家有完善的福利保障體系，根本用不着孩子孝順父母。

是呀，中國的社會保障體系不完善，很多人沒什麼大本事，老了沒有子女接濟，恐怕連溫飽問題都沒辦法解決。仿佛孝順父母只是為這些人準備的。

而我們所講的孝順，除了經濟上的接濟（很多人基本上用不着），還有很多精神上的安慰。讓我們來做個假設，看到這篇文章的人，都是大富豪，富裕程度不亞於比爾蓋茨。假如你的兒孫，在你八十大壽的時候，唯一想弄明白的情況就是“這老傢伙尚能飯否？”，給你的每一個笑容只是想在你的遺囑中占的比例稍微大一點。你做何感想？

你還要不要教孩子孝順父母？或許你教十分，孩子可以記住七八分，五六分，抑或兩三分，可是，如果你一點都不教，她/他可能一點都不會了。倘或你的孩子在有生之年突然開悟，“子欲孝而親不在”，他會快樂嗎？

動輒就美國如何如何的朋友，不妨看看這篇文章。

Honor and help your parents

From a child's point of view, parents are sometimes hard to understand.

There are differences between generations. But truthfully, this is no barrier. When one is weak, it is a temptation to take refuge in subterfuges and lies: it is this which builds the wall.

Children can reconcile their differences with their parents. Before any shouting begins, one can at least try to talk it over quietly. If the child is frank and honest, there cannot help but be an appeal that will reach. It is often possible to attain a compromise where both sides now understand and can agree, It is not always easy to get along with others but one should try.

One cannot overlook the fact that almost always, parents are acting from a very strong desire to do what they believe to be best for the child.

Children are indebted to their parents for their upbringing - if the parents did so. While some parents are so fierecely independent that they will accept no return on the obligation, it is nevertheless true that there often comes a time when it is the turn of the younger generation to care for their parents.

In spite of all, one must remember that they are the only parents one has. And as such, no matter what, one should honor them and help them.

The way to happiness includes being on good terms with one's parents or those who brought one up.