Now don’t get me wrong, if you don’t want to, you don’t have to, but you will have less space.
It is better on your back to have less of an angle when sitting. It should not be considered rude to recline your seat on a plane, because if everyone did it, we’d all have the same amount of space and be in more comfortable positions.
I just got off a flight where the fully grown woman behind me started smashing the back of my seat with her fist when I reclined.
I'm always so surprised when people say they want their kids to take care of them and move in with their kids when they're old because that sounds terrible for both parties.
To be clear: checking in on an older person and doing some house work and driving them to appointments is different. My parents and I help my grandfather, who is 93, with meal prep, getting to appointments, and things like that, but he is still able to live on his own. I understand why you would want your family to do this for you and I agree this is safe and reasonable.
But most people are not qualified to take care of their older parents full time if that's what they need, especially if they have issues like dementia or literally can't do anything themself. Unless your children are nurses who specialize in caring for the elderly, you will not get proper care. I would much rather live in a good quality nursing home with qualified professionals caring for me 24/7 than have my hypothetical future children care for me at their homes. I think it's selfish to force your kids to take care of you medically when they aren't trained, and I think it's selfish to try to take care of your elderly parents when you aren't qualified to provide them with the care that a good nursing home is.
My other grandfather had dementia and was in a very nice home, and my mom's siblings checked on him daily and did surprise visits to ensure he was being treated properly. He didn't like it there, but he would not have been cared for properly if he was living with my aunt or one of my uncles. Ultimately, when people need full 24/7 care, I believe this is the best way to do it. Continue to check on your elderly family and spend time with them and ensure they are in a good home, but don't take on an impossible task that will harm both of you.
