My husband and I lived together for almost twenty years. We were not poor, but we were not rich either. We lived like an
ordinary family — working, saving, raising children, and believing that one day all the difficulties would be behind us 😨
I devoted my whole life to my family. When my son was sick, I didn’t sleep at night. When my daughter had exams, I sat
beside her until dawn. I never put myself first. I thought that was how it was supposed to be.
But one day, everything collapsed. I found out that my husband was cheating on me. And not with some random woman…
but with my closest friend.
That day, it felt as if the ground disappeared beneath my feet. After the divorce, I was left with almost nothing. My son was
studying at university, my daughter had just been accepted, and I understood that if I didn’t get back on my feet now, my
children would have no future. So I went to Italy.
I didn’t want to go. I was afraid. I didn’t know the language, I had no one there, and I was already a woman over forty. But I
had no choice.
Through an acquaintance, I found work as a caregiver for two elderly people. The job was hard. From morning until late at
night, I cleaned, cooked, gave them medicine, and woke up at every small sound during the night.
But every month, no matter what, I sent my children 500 euros.
I bought nothing for myself. I walked in old shoes, wore an old coat, and didn’t take a vacation for years. I thought I would
rest later. For now, the important thing was for my children to stand on their own feet. Years passed.
My son built a house. When he sent me the photos, I cried from happiness. I gave my daughter and son-in-law a large
amount of money so they could exchange their small apartment for a bigger home and renovate it. I was proud of myself. I
thought I had fulfilled my duty as a mother. But one day, I looked at myself in the mirror and didn’t recognize myself.
There were dark circles under my eyes, my hair had turned completely gray, and there was only exhaustion on my face. I
realized I was living for others, but I no longer had a life of my own.
That was when a man appeared in my life. We met on social media. He wanted nothing from me. He simply wrote to me
every evening:
“You also have the right to be happy.”
At first, I didn’t believe it. But then I realized that for the first time in many years, someone was thinking about me.
And I decided to return home. I didn’t warn anyone. I wanted to surprise my children. First, I went to my daughter’s house.
My son-in-law opened the door. He was wearing only underwear and looked very confused.
“Why aren’t you at work?” I asked in surprise. “Isn’t today a working day?”
He answered unwillingly:
“I don’t work.”
“What do you mean?”
He was silent for a moment, then said․․․The continuation read in the comments ‼️👇‼️👇
“It’s been two years.”
I literally froze. Two years. For two years, I had been exhausting myself in a foreign country, unable to sleep at night from pain,
saving every coin to send to them… while he was simply sitting at home.
My daughter was sitting silently in the room with the child. She didn’t dare look me in the eyes. But everything in the house
was new — expensive furniture, new appliances, beautiful renovations. And at that moment, I understood the truth.
They didn’t need help. They had simply gotten used to living at my expense. I said nothing. I simply turned around and left.
That evening, I went to my son’s house. He was happy to see me, hugged me, and my daughter-in-law immediately set the
table. For the first time in a long time, I felt at home. But when I told him about my daughter’s house, my son sighed heavily.
“Mom, you should have stopped helping them long ago. My brother-in-law never really wanted to work.”
I stayed silent for a long time, then calmly said:
“I have decided not to return to Italy anymore.”
My son looked at me in surprise.
“So… you’re not going to work anymore?”
“No, son. I’m tired. Life is too short to live completely for others.”
His face changed. And at that moment, I understood something painful: even he had hoped that I would continue sending
money.
When my daughter found out that I would no longer help, she stopped calling. My son also began speaking to me more
coldly.
And only then did I finally understand how long I had allowed them to love me not as a mother… but as a person who must
always sacrifice herself.
But this time, for the first time, I decided to choose myself. And maybe it is late… but for the first time in my life, I don’t feel
guilty for it.
