Should Children Have the Right to Sue Their Parents? A Reflection on Responsibility and Accountability.

Children are individuals who often make wrong decisions in life. They need the guidance and support of their parents, teachers, or even siblings to help them differentiate between what is right and what is wrong.

Now, imagine a world where children are given the right to sue their parents whenever they feel the need to. I can’t help but think this would lead the world to chaos . Parents might no longer be willing to correct their children out of fear of being taken to court. This thought alone feels inappropriate to me.

With that being said, I actually do believe there are cases where parents deserve to be held accountable for their actions. For example, I’ve heard of fathers who raped their daughters or parents who maltreated their children to the point of death. Such cases are brutal and should never be condoned. While I’m not using this as a way to advocate or support that children should have the right to sue their parents in every situation, there should be laws to hold parents accountable for harmful behavior. Some parents seem to think that giving birth to a child gives them the right to treat them however they want, which i believe is unacceptable.

What kind of childhood would I have had if I could take my parents to court?

To be honest, if I had the chance to sue my mum as a child, I don’t think I would have done it—even in moments when I felt she was too harsh. She was a single mother of five who instilled good values in me, and I believe she did everything she could to help us grow. If she had been too scared to correct me because of the fear of getting sued, I doubt I’d be the person I am today. I might have ended up on the streets as a hooligan or even chosen not to attend school.

On the other hand, there are moments when I wish I could have held my dad accountable or maybe try to seek for my right as his child. He was absent—not just physically but emotionally and financially too. Growing up, it actually hurt to know he was wealthy and fully supported the children he had with his other wife while neglecting me. That truth is something I’ve always struggled with eversince I was a kid. Sometimes,it just feels as i never had a dad.

The most painful part was watching my mum work tirelessly to make up for his absence. She sacrificed so much to ensure I had a chance at life, even when it meant struggling to cover something as basic as my university fees. I often wonder how different things could have been if he had taken responsibility, even in the smallest ways such as maybe choosing to pay the fees.

At the end of the day, I know I’m not alone. Many children face neglect and indifference from their parents. Even though I would say I’m not entirely in favor of children taking their parents to court for any reason, I would say parents need to do better. Your children are your responsibility. We are not burdens or people you can choose to neglect. We are human beings too—the leaders of tomorrow—and we deserve love, care, and support.

Thank you for reading.