以前看过很多观点，恨不得把孝顺父母几个字从字典里挖去。说什么封建残余思想作怪，说什么小农经济的产物。总之，与现代化格格不入。说什么美国孩子一满十八岁就独立了，人家有完善的福利保障体系，根本用不着孩子孝顺父母。

是呀，中国的社会保障体系不完善，很多人没什么大本事，老了没有子女接济，恐怕连温饱问题都没办法解决。仿佛孝顺父母只是为这些人准备的。

而我们所讲的孝顺，除了经济上的接济（很多人基本上用不着），还有很多精神上的安慰。让我们来做个假设，看到这篇文章的人，都是大富豪，富裕程度不亚于比尔盖茨。假如你的儿孙，在你八十大寿的时候，唯一想弄明白的情况就是“这老家伙尚能饭否？”，给你的每一个笑容只是想在你的遗嘱中占的比例稍微大一点。你做何感想？

你还要不要教孩子孝顺父母？或许你教十分，孩子可以记住七八分，五六分，抑或两三分，可是，如果你一点都不教，她/他可能一点都不会了。倘或你的孩子在有生之年突然开悟，“子欲孝而亲不在”，他会快乐吗？

动辄就美国如何如何的朋友，不妨看看这篇文章。

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.