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

The first image is of a young child nursing. In the second, the children are older, and “suck” becomes a harsh image for what they continue to draw from their father.

The saying presents children’s demands on parents as lasting beyond childhood, though their form changes. Its blunt wording suggests that continued reliance may feel draining rather than welcome.

The saying could express frustration if older children continue to rely heavily on a parent for support. Its feeding image makes the judgment pointed, so it would be a poor fit for a neutral or sympathetic account of family care.