AITK for moving to another city for a job while my ailing senior citizen parents need me?
I come from a very middle-class background, and for a long time, I was jobless.
During that phase, I stayed at home and helped take care of my senior citizen parents. Both of them have health issues, and while I will not go into too many details, they do need support with medicines, appointments, day-to-day things, and emotional support.
Because I was unemployed, I was around them almost all the time. I could take them to doctors, help with small things at home, and generally be available whenever needed.
Now, after a long and difficult phase, I finally got a job. But the job is in a different city, so I will have to move out.
And honestly, I feel extremely guilty.
On one hand, I know I need this job. I need to become financially stable. I need to build my career. Coming from a middle-class family, I cannot afford to stay jobless forever or reject opportunities easily.
But on the other hand, I keep feeling like I am abandoning my parents when they need me the most. They are ageing, their health is not great, and emotionally also, I know my presence matters to them.
I am trying to arrange things before I leave, like medicine routines, doctor contacts, emergency support, and relatives/neighbours who can check in if needed. I will also keep sending money and visit whenever possible. But still, it feels like I am choosing my career over my duty as a son.
I am not moving out for fun, parties, or freedom. I am moving because I finally got a job after being jobless for a long time. But the guilt is eating me from inside.
So, AITK for moving to another city for work when my ailing senior citizen parents need me?