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Fran Lu

Young people in China are embracing a new trend of ‘parenting parents’ to heal wounds they inherited from childhood and redefine the traditional value of filial piety.
Many have posted that they are ‘reparenting their parents’ on social media.
The hashtag ‘reparenting parents’ has nearly 60 million views and 300,000 discussions on just one mainland social media platform.
In much the same way their parents taught them how to walk, such people are teaching their elders modern ways of living, such as ordering food deliveries on mobile apps, taking selfies and following skincare routines.

Some choose to share hobbies with their parents, as if they were their friends. They would snap up concert tickets for their parents or bring novel snacks back from a business trip for them.
Such people are usually young adults who are financially independent.
They consider themselves strong enough to take the initiative in their relationships with parents.
Some said that by reparenting their parents, they found a way to heal their childhood wounds from unhealthy parenting and to reconcile with their parents.

“I could not bear my mother’s nagging, but I grew to understand that she was anxious, and did not know how to express love due to her lack of parenting knowledge,” said one person.
A woman who goes by the name Yolanda said she managed to understand her mother’s irrational behaviour of pushing her to get married: “She was worried that I would be lonely when I grow old.”
Instead of fighting her mother, Yolanda chose to communicate peacefully with her about the great work pressure that made it difficult for her to start a family.

Another woman, nicknamed @puernaigai, said that she used to hold grudges against her mother because she treated her like a ‘marionette’.
“I must wear the pink clothes she chose, make friends with good grades that she liked, and study the major that she found promising. I was unhappy,” she said.
She said she later realised that her mother was only trying to gain control of her insecure life by controlling her daughter.
The woman started by ‘reparenting herself’, giving herself support and understanding that she did not receive when she was a child.
Then she decided to extend the care and support to her mother: “I will help my mother find the lost girl in her,” @puernaigai said.
Other than teaching her how to enjoy life, she also encouraged her mother to learn new skills, experience different lifestyles and believe in the idea that ‘it is OK to be ordinary’.

She said her reparenting worked. Her mother became softer and learned to respect her own choices.
Another, named Feifei, said reparenting parents redefines the traditional ways of showing filial piety.
“I used to think filial piety is to buy food and clothes for my parents, but now I realise that it is to be patient with their vulnerability and clumsiness as they grow old,” she said.
Professor Peng Huamao from Beijing Normal University’s Faculty of Psychology told the mainland media outlet Yitiao that the ageing population tends to fear that their deteriorating physical capabilities might lead to their children’s impatience and disdain.
“It is important that children respect their ageing parents’ agency, and communicate with them on an equal level,” Peng said.


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China ‘parenting parents’ trend sees youth teach mums and dads modern skills like taking selfies

A “parenting parents” trend has become popular among young Chinese people, who share experiences teaching their parents modern skills like taking selfies and applying skincare products. Photo: Shutterstock

Young people, like the woman on the left above, are embracing the trend to reconnect with their parents. Photo: Baidu

Among the activities these new ‘young parents’ partake in are special family meals. Photo: Baidu

Teaching parents who are growing old how to take a selfie is also on the to-do list. Photo: Shutterstock

Ageing parents are also learning how to use today’s array of digital devices. Photo: Shutterstock

China boss offers US$26 million bonus; staff can take as many bills as possible within set time

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The company event saw rows of tables laid out which were covered with cash. Photo: Elephant News

Employees were allowed to keep however many banknotes they could pick up in an allotted time. Photo: Elephant News

Company employees pictured carrying stacks of cash to be distributed. Photo: Elephant News

Company boss Cui Peijun says he understands the financial struggles his workers face. Photo: Elephant News

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Videos shared on social media reveal six horses secured to a metal carousel frame, each placed around one metre apart. Photo: YouTube

A park staff member noted that the ride gained popularity, with most time slots fully booked. Photo: YouTube

Carousels are cherished, classic staples in amusement parks globally, serving as visually captivating high-capacity attractions that appeal to visitors of all ages. Photo: Shutterstock

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The male patient, above, is seen lying on a bed before the procedure began. Photo: Weibo

Seconds after the “treatment” gets under way, blood can be seen dripping from the man’s arm. Photo: Weibo

One of the so-called doctors, above, can be seen “treating” the man while wearing ordinary clothes. Photo: Weibo

A police officer is pictured going into the unlicensed “clinic” to detain the so-called doctors. Photo: Weibo

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The husband kept filming as his wife screamed out in pain during the childbirth. Photo: 163.com

The Chinese influencer knowns as “Paul in USA” pictured with his wife. Photo: 163.com

A baby daughter was eventually delivered safely to the couple, pictured above. Photo: 163.com

Paul’s wife in her hospital bed. She released a statement in a bid to explain her husband’s actions. Photo: 163.com

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A man takes in the view during a holiday while his tennis racquet sits ready in his car for a workout at a tennis boot camp. Photo: Handout

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News

People & Culture

Young people seek to address their problematic upbringing by turning the tables and becoming ‘mum or dad’ to the people who brought them up


Young people seek to address their problematic upbringing by turning the tables and becoming ‘mum or dad’ to the people who brought them up.


China's ageing population

East China Normal University

China ‘parenting parents’ trend sees youth teach mums and dads modern skills like taking selfies

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Young people seek to address their problematic upbringing by turning the tables and becoming ‘mum or dad’ to the people who brought them up

Young people seek to address their problematic upbringing by turning the tables and becoming ‘mum or dad’ to the people who brought them up