I feel abandoned because my parents left inheritance only for my brother

As for me, being a daughter, I am expected to gain from my husband’s family after marriage. This makes me feel like a discarded item. Whenever my mother is sick, she complains about her pain ceaselessly, causing me to be stressed for days.

My mother constantly reminds me that children owe it to their parents for being born, yet she always tells my brother that he does not need to inconvenience himself by coming back to our hometown to take care of her.

Once, my mother fell off her bike and could not walk, so both my brother and I came home to visit. While my brother got to comfortably watch TV downstairs, I had to stay by my mother’s side to fetch things for her. Yet, my parents still feel indebted to my brother because he often sends money home.

I feel very sad and resentful because of this. Honestly, I no longer want to take on any responsibilities when my parents are sick. I can only comfort myself by thinking that taking care of them is my duty as their child, so I cannot stop.

Reader Aaa

These are comments by other readers about the above story:

Reader Hong Ha:

“Men bear the heavier responsibility to continue the lineage, so it is understandable they receive a larger share. Daughters, once married, belong to another family and must focus on their husband’s household. If they inherit, it will be from their husband’s family. No matter what anyone says, it is easier for parents to rely on their sons and daughters-in-law in their old age than on their daughters and sons-in-law. Sons and daughters-in-law can care for elderly parents continuously year after year, while daughters and sons-in-law can only care for them occasionally. Thus, the decision to allocate more inheritance to sons is not really wrong.”

Reader GT:

“If it were up to me, I would divide everything equally among the three children because they are all my children, and I love them equally. I would not force any of them to take care of me in my old age. I just want them to love and support each other in the future. There have been many cases of siblings arguing and even fighting because their parents favored one over the other when dividing inheritance.”

Reader Trada:

“I am the youngest son, with three older sisters. My parents and sisters assumed that the house and land would be mine. But when I left our hometown in Dong Thap Province to study, work, and start a family in HCMC, I told them to give the inheritance to whoever takes care of our parents. I believe that since I moved far away and cannot care for my parents, those who do should be rewarded for their efforts. I hope everyone can avoid discriminating between sons and daughters.”

So what are your thoughts on this matter?

*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.