Why We Need to Forgive Our Parents
Because sometimes love comes wrapped in mistakes.
Our parents have made mistakes. Some of them hurt us deeply.
Sometimes they’ve shattered our dreams unintentionally, underestimated our decisions, or imposed beliefs that no longer apply to our world. And yet, they did what they thought was right.
But why did they do it?
It All Comes Down to Information
Every decision—ours or our parents’—is based on the information available at that moment.
What we believe is right or wrong comes from:
what we know,
what we’ve learned,
and how we’ve processed it.
So, our parents also acted on what they knew. They didn’t have today’s resources or awareness. That doesn’t make them bad—it just makes them human.
The Generation Gap Isn’t Just About Age
It’s about context and information.
“In our time, this used to be right…”
“This worked back then, so it should work now…”
They’re not trying to ruin our lives—they’re often just applying outdated truths to a new world. They stopped updating their thinking after a point, and that’s where clashes begin.
We Think They Should Understand Us.
They Think They’re Right.
But truth is… we’re not always right either.
Even within our generation, we judge each other.
Someone who doesn’t drink or smoke might get bullied just for being different. But maybe they’re the one making the better choice.
Perspective matters. Information matters.
And no one has the full picture.
Osho’s Insight on Parents
Osho once said something beautiful:
“The child wants to play with a snake, and the parent says no. The child thinks the parent is the enemy, but the parent is just afraid.”
That’s it, right?
They’re not villains. They’re just scared. Cautious. Protective. And sometimes… wrong. Just like us.
Our Parents Are Not Always Right — And Not Always Wrong
We forgive ourselves when we mess up.
We say, “I was stupid,” and move on.
But when parents mess up, we hold on to it, sometimes for life.
Why? Because we expected perfection from them.
But maybe it’s time to stop expecting flawless love from flawed people who loved us anyway.
So What Can We Do?
One word: Communication.
Sit down.
Talk.
Listen without trying to win.
Let it not be a debate but a dialogue.
If we make decisions based on our own information, we must be open to hearing their stories too.
Final Thought
Forgiveness isn’t about excusing every action.
It’s about understanding the intention, the fear, and the limitations behind them.
Forgive your parents.
Forgive yourself.
We’re all learning as we go.
Because in the end, they were the ones who picked us up when we fell.
They’re still trying to—just with a little more caution, and a little less context.