Some immigrant parents constantly bring up the past and everything they had to give up to migrate. What this means is obvious: “You better choose the life I would have chosen if given the options you have.” While you know that your parent’s intentions are good and aren’t trying to put undue pressure on you, you can’t help but feel like you owe them something. All children naturally feel responsible for their parents’ suffering. If you know that your immigrant parents came to a new country to “give you a better life,” your sense of unjustified guilt will be even more acute.
