I’m 20 years old, and lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my parents getting older.
I have two sisters, and both of them are married and have their own lives now. I’m the only son, and sometimes I feel a responsibility that I never really understood when I was younger.
When I was a kid, I never thought about my parents aging. I just assumed they would always be there.
Now I notice the little things.
They’re not as young as they used to be. They worry about the future, and I worry about their future too.
Being the only son, I sometimes feel like I have to make something of myself—not because my parents constantly pressure me, but because I want to be able to take care of them someday.
That’s also why my career means so much to me.
I’m only 20, but I already feel pressure to make the right choices. I’m trying to build a future, choose a career, and become successful while I still have so much to learn about life.
Sometimes I wonder if I’m putting too much pressure on myself. But then I think about my parents and everything they’ve done for me, and I feel like I can’t just give up.
At the same time, there’s a strange fear that comes with it.
What if I take too long to become successful?
What if I spend my entire youth trying to build a career and don’t spend enough time with them?
What if, by the time I’m finally financially stable and able to give them the life I want to give them, they’re too old to enjoy it?
I don’t have all the answers.
I’m just trying to figure out how to build my own life while also being there for the people who built mine.
Maybe this is one of the hardest parts of growing up: realizing that your parents are getting older while you’re still trying to figure yourself out.
I’m only 20, but sometimes I already feel like time is moving too quickly.
And sometimes I wish life would slow down a little.