Children suck the mother when they are young, and the father when they are old.

Understand the thought

Meaning in plain English

Children’s dependence can change form as they grow: the image moves from being physically nurtured to drawing on family resources.

What the words are saying

The saying stretches the image of feeding beyond infancy. Young children are pictured taking milk from a mother, while older children are pictured taking support from a father. Its point is the continuing cost or effort of caring for children, not a literal act of feeding in later life. The gendered division reflects the wording’s assumptions and need not govern a modern reading. It can prompt discussion of changing responsibilities within a family without depicting children as parasites or support as something shameful.

Everyday example

A family moves from arranging everyday childcare to discussing how to help an older child with a first home.

When to use it

Use it to discuss how family support changes over time.

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Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.