AM I WRONG FOR BEING UPSET THAT MY MOM QUIT HER JOB TO “LIVE FOR HERSELF” INSTEAD OF HELPING WITH MY MORTGAGE?
My mom has worked her entire life to provide for me and my brother. She’s always preached the importance of financial stability, saving for the future, and making smart money decisions.
But now, at 67, she suddenly decided to quit her job and retire — not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She said she finally wants to “live for herself” — travel, do art, take long walks in the park, and just enjoy life.
That would be great if I weren’t struggling financially. I have a mortgage, a small child, and mounting expenses. A little bit of help from her side would go a long way. She could’ve worked for just a few more years to help pay off part of my loan or at least set something aside for her grandson’s future.
I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve to relax, but shouldn’t she be more responsible and put the family’s needs above her own temporary pleasures?
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Hello everyone! Grandma here.
I love my family. I have spent my entire life working for them since my husband left me when I was 35. I gave up vacations, didn’t buy expensive things for myself, and worked overtime just to make sure my kids had everything they needed.
But here’s what I realized: life doesn’t last forever. Why should I keep working myself to exhaustion, saving money I might never even get to enjoy?
I don’t want to wake up at 75 and regret never doing the things I wanted. I’m not abandoning my family — I’ve raised them, supported them, and given them everything I could. Now they have their own lives, their own incomes, their own responsibilities.
Yes, I used to help them financially, but am I really a bad mother and grandmother for finally doing something for myself?