Sometimes it is a question of self respect. It's perhaps the last thing people cling to, to keep their sense of self alive. It is what probably keeps him going now.
My father refused to take any real help, till his final days.
In his own words, he wanted to "free" his children from the burden he had turned into - he wanted us to go out and succeed & never blame him for holding us back.
All I could do was get him his pills and sit by his bed & promise him that it wasn't a sacrifice (and that I would live my life, soon).
Not that it did any good to his self-worth, but it helps me sleep well at night, at least.
But in this article, he makes it seem as tho his failures were due to career choice, bad mortgages, age, etc. When in reality, it could simply have been self-respect, maybe stubbornness or pride. I just think this article may have been unfairly billed and titled because there is a HUGE piece missing - that of his own pride.
his failures were due to career choice, bad mortgages
He didn't blame anyone did he? He basically said he made all of the decisions, one by one. The source of those decisions may or may not have been what you propose as the explanation. But I think the characterization 'this article may have been unfairly billed and titled' seems...off, regardless. But maybe I'm missing something.
Finding friends for kids to stay with even short term is doable because grown ups take pity. Finding friends that'll let you stay - the threat being for extended periods - is a damn sight harder?
Why do you think his pride stopped him accepting help? Would you put up someone down on their luck?
My father refused to take any real help, till his final days.
In his own words, he wanted to "free" his children from the burden he had turned into - he wanted us to go out and succeed & never blame him for holding us back.
All I could do was get him his pills and sit by his bed & promise him that it wasn't a sacrifice (and that I would live my life, soon).
Not that it did any good to his self-worth, but it helps me sleep well at night, at least.