Consideration When Gifting Parents

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Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors. One of many players 
that gift parents when they become successful.

Some parents are lucky. They reap the fruits of their labor when kids grow up. Every other kid wants to play in the NBA, NFL, MLB and Major League Soccer, the new kid on the block. It’s for the fame and fortune. Others want to buy their parents better houses and cars.

That’s why newer NBA players follow the tradition of older guys (O.G’s) and do just that. It’s usually a surprise filled with tears and hugs. However, it leaves a bitter taste when a gift turns a parent’s life upside down, without consultation. Showing up at a parent’s workplace and telling her that it’s her last day because you got a fat contract, is over the top. She will be happy for you obviously, but unilaterally demanding that she retires on the spot is insensitive.

The intention is good but it is one example of how far removed we are from parents. We forget that they still have dreams and aspirations. They are happy we’re doing well (compared to their time). One of those aspirations is to maintain their health so they can keep working. It gives them a sense of purpose. There are things they hate about the job. There are things they love about the job. Sounds familiar? We work to pay for the roof, pots on the stove, kids’ clothing and wheels to take us from here to there. We also work for companionship: difficult co-workers, lazy co-workers, the wonderful boss, the boss from hell and workers that start every sentence with ‘my husband.’

We should talk to parents more often, so that we can know what they would like to do, should they ever decide to stop working. If they decide, not us frog-marching them out of work because we got an obese NBA contract.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.

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