It’s not that parents are killjoys. Maybe we’re just still too poor.

Last weekend, my wife and I both had our one day off. We don’t cook for the kids much on weekdays, so we thought we’d make it up to them on the weekend — take them out for a good meal.

Every time the kids know we’re going out to eat, they get so excited. My mom, though? She’s always resistant. Every single time, it’s the same line: “What’s the point of eating out! You guys go if you want, I’m not going!”

And every time, it gets awkward. If you insist on going anyway, it feels like you’re being rebellious, not listening. If you don’t go, the kids lose their happy moment.

My wife whispers to me: “Maybe we just shouldn’t go. Don’t want to upset the elders.”

But my mom just says it with her mouth. I usually just push through and take the kids anyway. When we get back from the meal, she doesn’t say anything bad.

Sometimes I think: maybe it’s because my income isn’t high enough. With three kids, my parents are thinking — you should be saving more. How are you going to save if you’re always eating out and drinking?

My wife says: “You’re overthinking it. Your parents know their own son. They know your capacity better than anyone.”

So where’s the real problem?

On the surface, it’s about one meal. But behind it, it’s two generations with different consumption mindsets. It’s not that they don’t like the food you’re taking them to.

People say: different circles, no need to force integration. I think the same goes for consumption values.

How we post-80s and post-90s spend money — it might just be something our parents can’t relate to. And we can’t force them to see it our way.

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Author: 杨少兵
Content e-commerce practitioner. Welcome to connect: 397000395@qq.com